The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has published its first set of quarterly management information data on the Building Control Approval process for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) at Gateway Two. The data, covering the period October 2023 to March 2025 across four tables, shows that there has been a total of 2,108 applications, with almost half (1,019) still awaiting a decision. Of the applications where a decision has been made, 31% were approved and 69% were invalid, rejected or withdrawn. The approval rate for new build applications is lower at just 23%, with 77% invalid, rejected or withdrawn.
Between January and March 2025, it took the BSR on average 25.1 weeks to approve an application, but new build applications took longer at an average of 36 weeks, three times the statutory 12-week timeframe. The BSR has confirmed that the number of decisions has doubled month-on-month since March, and the new Innovation Unit will focus on fast-tracking new build applications through the process.
The BSR has also provided data on why applications have been rejected. For new build applications, 73% did not meet the legal requirements for work on new HRBs, 73% did not contain sufficient detail, 45% set out work which would contravene Building Regulations, and 27% did not adequately set out how changes would be managed through the construction phase. Other reasons for rejection included not adequately setting out how the project would satisfy the requirements for the Golden Thread and Mandatory Occurrence Reporting.
To help members navigate the new regime, Build UK has published an overview of Gateway Two and the documents that must be included within an application, as well as detailed guidance on theGolden Thread and Mandatory Occurrence Reporting. We also continue to work with the BSR and MHCLG to resolve the delays at Gateway Two, and earlier this week Build UK Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol attended the latest roundtable with Building Safety Minister Alex Norris where further options were discussed, including the potential for staged applications where reasonably practicable.
The BSR is hosting two webinars to provide practical support on the process of applying for Building Control Approval. The first on Tuesday 22 July from 10:00am – 11:00am is aimed at developers and will focus on new build HRBs, whilst the second on Thursday 24 July from 10:00am – 11:00am is intended for Principal Accountable Persons (PAPs) and will set out the appropriate level of information required.