The Building Safety Regulator has come under fire this week with damning calls from the ACQP to remove the BSR from HSE, followed by the announcement that Philip White is “partially retiring” as he steps down from the role of director of building safety
The BSR acts as the authority for High Rise Buildings (HRBs) in England, prioritising safety and quality in these buildings intended for residential or commercial use, as well as ensuring that all applications meet the legal requirements for HRBs.
However, the ACQP are accusing the BSR of:
Lack of built environment expertise
The HSE is not a construction regulator. Its staff, systems and oversight frameworks are not designed to deal with building control, cladding, fire engineering or long-term structural risks.
Slow and ineffective enforcement
ACQP members report delayed interventions on high-risk buildings, with many unsafe structures still occupied and unresolved years after issues were flagged.
Low visibility and engagement
There is widespread concern that the BSR is distant, bureaucratic and disconnected from the professionals and residents it is meant to support.
Cultural misalignment
The HSE’s long-standing risk-based, reactive enforcement culture does not align with the proactive, high-stakes demands of modern building safety oversight.
They are now calling on the government to remove the BSR from HSE and make it their own independent statutory body with its own governance, staffing, and powers.
This would address the issue with a lack of expertise, as leadership can be taken from the construction, fire safety, and resident advocacy sectors.
BSR under investigation
Less than a week ago, the House of Lords launched an inquiry into the BSR regarding delays in construction caused by slow approval processes. This has resulted in a significant backlog and is preventing contractors from commencing work.
The BSR website states: “We acknowledge that many applications have taken longer than anticipated to process. But we’re having to reject around 70% of applications because they don’t meet the legal requirements. This isn’t ‘red tape’ for the sake of it. We’re preventing risks and problems from being designed into the built environment.”
Several industry voices are speaking against the Building Safety Regime, which was launched in April 2023.
Figures from Cast show that a measly 10.8% of Gateway 2 new project applications have been approved to date. Furthermore, 20 new project applications have been approved out of 187, following assessment delays.
The inquiry seeks evidence from building industry specialists, housing associations, architects, resident groups, safety experts, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders.
Baroness Taylor of Bolton, chair of the Industry and Regulators Committee, said: “The Committee wants to hear from all stakeholders to find out if the BSR has the skills and resources required to ensure the safety of all buildings and its residents in the process of approving applications for high-rise buildings.
“This is crucial if the Government is going to achieve its manifesto target of building 1.5 million homes over the next Parliament.”
Philip White is stepping down
Yesterday, Philip White, the director of the Building Safety Regulator, announced his partial retirement in September, but will continue in his role as Chief Inspector of Buildings at the HSE.
This is a tumultuous time to question the leadership of the regulator, and it is hard not to think that this clear expression of distrust in the BSR has something to do with it.
A spokesman for the HSE said: “Philip White has served as interim Director of Building Safety at the Building Safety Regulator since December 2023.
“Mr White’s decision to only partially retire means that BSR will continue to benefit from his extensive experience as it enters its second year of operation.
“The BSR is in the process of recruiting a permanent Director of Building Safety. We look forward to working with his replacement on improving building safety and delivering safe and secure homes for residents.”
What’s next for the BSR?
The future of the regulator is currently unclear – the government have not yet published a formal response to the Association of Construction and Quality Professionals’ demands, and a new director has yet to be chosen, indicating White’s step-down was mostly unplanned.
Should the BSR be removed from the HSE, a mass staff overhaul may occur, or at the very least, many leadership roles will undergo changes.
Changes will also come to the HSE, as its scope narrows with the removal of the BSR.
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