Higher-risk building regime

Following the Grenfell Tower fire, the government carried out an independent review of the Building Regulations and fire safety laws. The final report (Hackitt Report) was published on 17 May 2018, and set out over 50 recommendations, including a new regulator to oversee the construction and management of buildings. See News Analysis: The Hackitt fire safety report—does it go far enough?

The Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022), which received royal assent in April 2022, was a key part of the government’s response to the Hackitt Report. BSA 2022 paved the way for significant changes to the law on building safety. For general information on the reforms introduced by BSA 2022 and its key provisions, see Practice Note: Building Safety Act 2022—key provisions and issues.

BSA 2022, Pt 3 and Pt 4 provided the framework for a regulatory system applicable to ‘higher-risk’ buildings (HRBs) in England. The HRB regime imposes rigorous building control processes and other legal requirements in relation to HRBs. The regime is overseen by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), formerly a division of the Health and Safety Executive.

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