BSR reforms aim to fast-track safe high-rise housing

The government has announced major reforms to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) in a move designed to accelerate the delivery of new high-rise homes while strengthening oversight of safety and remediation.

The changes transfer the BSR from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to a new body within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Andy Roe, former commissioner of London Fire Brigade, has been appointed as non-executive chair, with Charlie Pugsley taking on the role of chief executive.

A new Fast Track Process will bring additional engineering and inspection capacity directly into the regulator, aimed at unblocking delays in high-rise housing approvals. More than 100 new staff are being recruited to support the regulator’s expanded remit.

The reforms also establish Innovation and Remediation Enforcement Units, reflecting the government’s commitment to accelerate remediation of unsafe buildings while enabling construction of 1.5 million new homes. The long-term ambition is to create a single construction regulator, a key recommendation of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

For the UK concrete sector, the reforms will influence how quickly foundations, frames, and structural works on high-rise residential projects gain approval. They also place increased emphasis on competency, testing and compliance across all materials and construction methods.

“It is clear that the BSR processes need to evolve and improve to enable the homes this country desperately needs to be built,” said Andy Roe, chair of the BSR.

The Ministry of Housing said the changes build on the progress already made since the Building Safety Act 2022, and are designed to ensure that safety remains central while approvals are streamlined.

Impact on the concrete construction sector

• Faster starts on site
  The new Fast Track Process could reduce approval delays for foundations and frame works on high-rise residential projects, giving concrete suppliers and contractors more certainty on programme timings.
• Stricter compliance checks
  Greater emphasis on testing, traceability and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) will mean concrete producers must demonstrate performance and safety credentials more clearly.
• Growth in remediation work
  With a dedicated Remediation Enforcement Unit, demand for concrete repair, strengthening and fire-safety upgrades on existing buildings is expected to rise.