Summary
Planning Gateway One (PGO), implemented in August 2021, has significantly transformed fire safety in high-rise residential buildings in the UK. This article explores the impact of PGO three years on, highlighting its key features and the changes it has brought to the planning process. The enhanced focus on fire safety in the early stages of development has demonstrably improved building safety standards and fostered a more collaborative approach between developers and regulators.
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Okay, so, three years ago – August 2021 to be precise – the UK made a big move, launching Planning Gateway One (PGO). It’s all part of the response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, you know? A real turning point, this was about changing how we think about fire safety in high-rise buildings, right from the start. And now, three years on, it’s a good time to take a look at how it’s all panning out.
PGO is the first of three gateways introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022, and it’s all about getting fire safety onto the agenda early in the planning process. See, any new residential high-rise – that’s 18 meters or seven stories – has to nail its fire safety considerations before even getting planning permission. Developers are now required to submit a fire statement, detailing all the fire safety principles and approaches they’re using. This forces developers to get fire safety experts involved from day one. Which, honestly, just makes sense. It’s all about that proactive approach.
What does this fire statement cover exactly? Well, it’s pretty comprehensive, to be honest. Everything from the site layout and accessibility for emergency vehicles to water supplies for firefighting, and records of all the fire safety consultations. It’s a holistic view, encompassing both the building itself, and the surroundings; its environment. I think of it like planning a big event, you don’t just think about what the room is like, you think about the guests and how they’ll get there safely too!
Also, and this is pretty significant, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) now acts as a statutory consultee for all of these applications. This means that the HSE has to be involved and weigh in on all relevant planning applications, giving an expert view on the fire safety aspects. It adds that crucial extra layer of scrutiny and oversight. They’re not messing around! It’s all about getting the right people involved at the right time, it really is.
The big shift, I think, has been that PGO has moved the focus from putting out fires to preventing them. By making developers address fire safety so early, risks are identified and sorted out before construction starts. This isn’t just about safety, it’s about transparency too. It holds everyone accountable right from the start.
And, one of the best things about PGO? It’s all about collaboration. The requirement to consult with fire safety professionals and the HSE has created a collaborative space. It’s not just about ticking boxes, its about sharing knowledge, working together to meet the highest safety standards. It’s a good thing when different groups and perspectives work together, right? It’s how innovation happens!
So, three years in, has PGO made a difference? Absolutely. While we’re still waiting for the full effect of the Building Safety Act, PGO has laid a really solid groundwork for a future where fire safety isn’t an afterthought. In the future, we’ll see fire safety being a fundamental part of the entire building process.
Looking ahead though, it’s critical that we don’t stop here. Continued education and training for all the industry professionals involved are key to making PGO a success, and to meeting the wider goals of the Building Safety Act. It’s all about learning, adapting, and continuous improvement; that way we create a safer, better built environment. And let’s be clear, as of January 21st, 2025, PGO is still vital in changing fire safety standards here in the UK. It’s setting the stage for a more robust and safe future for everyone living in high-rise buildings, and that’s a great thing isn’t it?
“So, it took a tragedy to get fire safety considered *before* construction? One would think preventing fires was always the aim, not just putting them out. Perhaps more focus on prevention from the beginning would be wise.”
I agree, it’s unfortunate it took a tragedy to initiate this shift. The focus on prevention from the outset is definitely key, and PGO is helping to enforce this. By involving fire safety experts and the HSE early, risks are identified and mitigated proactively, which is a much more effective approach.
Editor: FocusNews.Uk
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The requirement for developers to submit a fire statement, detailing fire safety principles, appears to be a significant step in ensuring accountability and encouraging proactive risk mitigation.
I appreciate you highlighting the accountability aspect. The fire statement is designed to be comprehensive, ensuring that fire safety isn’t just considered, but meticulously planned and documented from the outset, creating a much stronger system of responsibility.
Editor: FocusNews.Uk
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“Holistic view,” you say? Sounds more like they’re finally doing the bare minimum after a tragedy.
I appreciate your comment. While it’s true that the catalyst was tragic, the “holistic view” element is actually about considering the site’s entire context. This is a more proactive approach, examining access and the environment as well as the building, improving safety at multiple levels.
Editor: FocusNews.Uk
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The involvement of the Health and Safety Executive as a statutory consultee adds a valuable layer of expert oversight to the planning process. This mandatory input should help to ensure a more robust consideration of fire safety.
Absolutely, it’s great to see the HSE’s involvement recognised, their expert perspective helps to shape safer designs from the outset. The collaborative approach between developers, fire safety experts and HSE is so important. This shared knowledge ensures robust safety measures and standards that we all benefit from.
Editor: FocusNews.Uk
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“A ‘collaborative space’ you say? Sounds like meetings, and more meetings, and more meetings… Perhaps they could focus on building safe structures, and less on the process of talking about it.”
That’s a fair point, and while it’s true there are meetings involved, the collaboration also means different experts share their unique knowledge. This proactive input at the planning stage helps create safer structures by addressing potential issues from the outset.
Editor: FocusNews.Uk
Thank you to our Sponsor Focus 360 Energy – https://focus360energy.co.uk
“PGO sounds like a real fire safety dating app: bringing together developers, experts and the HSE so they can, collaboratively, spark a safe future. Wonder if there’s a ‘swipe left’ option for dodgy plans?”
That’s a fun way to put it! The collaborative “match-making” aspect is definitely a key part of PGO. It’s about bringing together different expertise to proactively address potential issues and ensure safety isn’t just a box-ticking exercise, but a shared responsibility.
Editor: FocusNews.Uk
Thank you to our Sponsor Focus 360 Energy – https://focus360energy.co.uk
“Fire safety experts involved from day one”? Sounds like the beginning of a beautiful, albeit fiery, friendship! Hopefully, they’re not all too hot-headed!
I love that playful take! It’s definitely about building strong relationships alongside the buildings. This early collaboration ensures fire safety isn’t just a checklist item, but a key part of the design process.
Editor: FocusNews.Uk
Thank you to our Sponsor Focus 360 Energy – https://focus360energy.co.uk