The Building Safety Regulator is introducing a more proportionate approach for building assessment certificates, especially in buildings deemed more risky
The new high-risk building assessment process intends to give more support to duty holders and maintain standards in building safety.
The key change will be in the issuing of building assessment certificates (BACs).
Principal accountable persons (PAPs) to receive greater support
The BSR is in the process of implementing the building assessment certificate foundation plan, in response to feedback from PAPs as well as financial institutions and stakeholders. The plan will:
- Ensure building safety legal duties remain in place for more than 6,000 legally responsible PAPs and accountable persons (APs) of HRBs across England whilst the plan is developed
- Apply learning from the introduction of the BAC regime to improve assessment processes
- Only call in new applications when necessary until improved processes are agreed and communicated to duty holders
- Prioritise applications already undergoing an assessment
- Explore options for proportionate, fast-track reassessments for previously refused certificates once standards are met
- Provide greater, more targeted support to resident-led PAPs
- Help protect residents and leaseholders from unnecessary or unexpected costs
- Continue to work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to inform potential long-term legislative changes
Lord Roe, BSR board chair, said: “We recognise the first rollout of the building assessment certificate regime presented significant challenges and costs for duty holders, with determination times and refusal rates falling short of our expectations.
“This shift in strategy and our longer-term plans are a clear and practical targeted package of measures to reset the system.
“By doing this and supporting all accountable persons to carry out their essential and ongoing legal duties, we can ensure many high-rise residents see the high safety standards they deserve and expect, without facing additional financial burdens.”
Charlie Pugsley, acting CEO of BSR, said: “As we enter an important new chapter as a standalone body, our priority is on strengthening safety, building trust and working together with industry.
“Speed cannot come at the cost of safety, but neither can unnecessary complexity. We are committed to a new proportionate approach to assessments as well as providing updated guidance, resources and support.
“This is so duty holders, especially those in resident-managed buildings, are ready to demonstrate compliance whenever asked.
“Meeting these standards will ensure residents in thousands of high-rise buildings across England feel safe and are safe in their homes.”
Major changes since leaving the HSE
At the start of this year, the BSR was removed from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following major criticisms of the regulator’s access to expertise, the reactive nature of the BSR, and the unreasonably long wait time for applications to be seen.
In April, the BSR announced another improvement plan to tackle delays in caseload management for high-risk remediation works.
The measures taken include a new taskforce, called the External Remediation Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), as well as an employment drive to increase staff, as at time of announcement the average caseload was 25 cases. The plan aims to bring this down to 10 cases.
At the time, Lord Roe said: “We continue to accelerate our decision-making for new build applications, speeding up approvals for new build and external remediation projects and increasing the supply of safe new and existing homes through the recent changes we have made to our processes.
“However, we recognise current determination times for remediation cases are falling short of statutory targets. This plan represents a targeted and achievable package of measures to reset the system and clear older legacy remediation cases.
“By doing so and then focusing on more recent applications, we can ensure high-rise residents see essential safety improvements they deserve without unnecessary or further delays.”
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