BPF Urges Funding for Building Safety

Summary

The British Property Federation (BPF) is urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to increase funding for the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). Delays of up to two years in the approval process for high-rise buildings are hindering construction and economic growth. The BPF emphasizes the need for a “new approach” to resourcing at the BSR to address these critical backlogs.

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** Main Story**

Okay, so the British Property Federation (BPF) is really pushing for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to boost funding for the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). And honestly, who can blame them? We’re talking about major delays on high-rise residential buildings – some stretching to two years. Can you imagine the frustration?

Stalling Progress

The BPF is basically saying this isn’t just about construction projects being held up; it’s impacting economic growth and making the housing shortage even worse. It’s a pretty grim picture, and it’s hard to disagree.

They’re calling for a “new approach” at the BSR. The main issue? The BSR relies too heavily on outsourced technical staff, and it’s causing major bottlenecks. Melanie Leech, BPF Chief Executive, hit the nail on the head when she said this model is “running counter to the urgent need for new homes.” And the numbers back her up – apparently, legal teams are wasting a crazy 12,000 working days each year just chasing stalled applications. Some projects are even being abandoned altogether. It’s a mess.

These delays, which can be anywhere from 18 to 24 months, are hammering investors. I mean, who wants to sink money into a project that’s stuck in legal limbo for years? And it’s not just about the money; these delays prevent new owners from actually using these buildings. It’s like, what’s the point?

The Bottleneck

The BSR’s outsourcing model has created a real bottleneck, exceeding the initial 12-week approval timeline and currently averaging 22 weeks. The BPF reckons it’s down to a lack of in-house technical staff at the BSR, coupled with limited capacity in the private sector and local authorities. Even Andrew Moore, BSR Head of Operations, Planning, and Building Control, admits things “isn’t working as we’d hoped.” Which is a bit of an understatement, don’t you think?

Building Safety Act 2022: Ambitious, But…

Now, let’s talk about the Building Safety Act 2022. It’s a massive piece of legislation that aims to shake up building regulations in England and Wales. And it went live October 1, 2023. The goal is to overhaul how buildings are designed, constructed, and managed, with a big focus on high-rise residential buildings (HRBs). Think stricter standards, more accountability, and greater transparency.

Here’s a quick rundown of some key changes:

• New Building Control Process: HRBs now need to jump through more hoops, including getting Gateway 2 approval from the BSR before construction even starts. It’s all about making sure the design meets tough safety standards. A better process is surely welcome news, right?
• Defining “Commencement”: They’ve clarified when building work officially begins, which affects when building control approvals lapse. Basically, approvals expire after three years if work hasn’t started. You’d think this would have been clearly defined from the start.
• Dutyholder Responsibilities: New responsibilities for everyone involved in the building process – designers, builders, the whole shebang. The aim is to make sure everyone’s accountable throughout the building’s lifecycle.
• Information and Notification: More transparency! Everyone now needs to provide more information to Building Control bodies at different stages of the project. The more communication, the better.

The Act aims to tackle systemic safety issues, enhance accountability, and raise standards across the board. And I think it’s a well intentioned initiative to ensure the buildings are safe to live in.

The BPF supports the goals, but they’re worried that without enough funding for the BSR, these changes won’t make a difference. And you know what? I think they’re spot on, because, the current backlog is totally at odds with the government’s target of building 1.5 million new homes. They’re urging for immediate action to unlock the sector’s potential.

Essentially, the BPF is highlighting a critical issue: we need to ensure that the BSR has the resources it needs to do its job effectively. Otherwise, we’re just putting new regulations in place without the means to enforce them, what a waste. Ultimately, its about both building safety and delivering much-needed housing.