The Building Safety Regular (BSR) has published its latest data for the period 8 June to 31 August 2026. The data shows that a total of 333 decisions were made across all valid Gateway Two applications with an approval rate of 84%. However, 174 applications (34% of the number received) were deemed invalid or withdrawn in the same 12‐week period.

The BSR highlights a ‘steady increase’ in new build applications in August, with the number expected to rise again this month ahead of the Building Safety Levy coming into operation on 1 October 2026. A year on from the establishment of the Innovation Unit, the median approval time for applications has reduced from 43 weeks to 22 weeks.

There are currently 184 live ‘major change’ requests. 42% are new build, 36% are Category A and B, 6% are remediation, 14% are NHS, and 2% are transitional projects. New build change requests are currently taking on average seven weeks to close, against the statutory target of six weeks.  

The BSR also received 53 Gateway Three applications during the last 12 weeks. There were 16 decisions made in an average time of 20 weeks with an approval rate of 88%. No new build projects that have been through Gateway Two have yet reached Gateway Three, and this will be focus of the discussion at the next Build UK Building Safety call on Tuesday 29 September

As the Commercial Payments Bill makes its final stand in the House of Lords, FIS looks at progress and what we all need to do next to ensure that we get the reform we’ve been promised and how you can help.

Quick recap on what the Commercial Payments Bill is and how it is progressing?

The Commercial Payments Bill is the government’s plan to fix late payment in construction. The Bill will set in law a legal cap on payment periods, that statutory interest must be paid and can’t be contracted away, and, the headline measure for our sector, phases out cash retentions altogether.

So far the good news from our perspective is that the Bill has rifled through Committee stages in the House of Lords with any opposition swept to one side.  The only significant change tightens the Bill by closing off a gap where public clients weren’t held to the same standard as private ones. There were also modest tweaks to widen the Small Business Commissioner’s cost-recovery powers (again a good thing) and add a duty to consult before setting financial penalty rules.  Vitally what hasn’t been watered down is that the retention ban itself, and its phase-out timetable, has been supported this far.

Quick recap on what the Commercial Payments Bill is and how it is progressing?

The Bill has its final Lords hearing next week. Assuming it clears that stage as expected, it moves to the Commons, likely in Q4 this year (hopefully October).  The Bill will then be subject to three debates in the House of Commons and at the end, if passed (Royal Assent and commencement), it becomes an Act – the Law!

Our hope is now that we can champion it through the Commons so that it becomes an Act within this Parliamentary cycle. Every amendment that reopens settled ground or adds complexity increases the risk of “ping-pong” (the Bill bouncing back and forth between the Commons and the Lords) which eats up the parliamentary time the Bill needs to actually pass. The single biggest risk to this reform right now isn’t opposition to its aims; it’s delay.

What we’re asking members to do

With the Bill heading to the Commons, it would be great for you to approach your MP and explain why this Bill is so important to construction.  We’ve prepared a briefing note  to help with this, which goes into the detail, but our advice is keep it simple.  The priorities are:

• Back the Bill.  Poor payment and retention abuse have been a cancer at the core of construction and drive adversarial relationships, undermine investment and destroy businesses and lives.
• Retentions don’t buy quality – competence, supervision and proper contracts do. Holding back cash doesn’t make anyone build better.
• Resist carve-outs that dilute the retention abolition. One exemption invites others, and SMEs end up carrying the risk.
• Close the loopholes. Staged payments and third-party arrangements are still lawful, be alert to any mechanism that quietly reintroduces a retention-by-another-name is caught.
• Hold the line on payment terms and interest. 30/60 days should be a floor, not a ceiling, applied at every tier and the Act needs to ensure interest reaches suppliers, not just exist on paper.
• Adjudication Reform is needed. Fast, affordable dispute resolution is critical and needs to be supported alongside the Act.
• Protect the timetable. Ask for a firm commencement date, not more consultation — and make sure the Commissioner is properly resourced (helped by the Bill’s own cost-recovery powers).
• Push for public sector leadership now. Nothing stops public clients dropping retentions today, the Construction Playbook could get ahead of the legislation and we’ve included a draft Retention Pledge in attached.
• Ensure the market is equipped to monitor impact.  Watching how the Construction Act changes and their guidance get implemented, so they aren’t quietly reinterpreted or gamed to preserve the old way of doing things.

The ambition of this Bill is a construction sector that pays fairly by default. That only happens if we stay engaged through Commons stages and well past Royal Assent.

How we can help

If you need help contacting your MP, reach out to FIS and we can support the process and if you do get an opportunity to discuss are more than happy to go through this briefing note with you and help you prepare, but the truth is that what they will really want to do is hear your story and why this is important to you.  The facts and figures help strengthen the case, but your story as their constituent is the critical part in getting them interested.

FIS Briefing Note available to download here.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is conducting a statutory review of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) and is seeking views and information through two surveys. 

This review is separate from HSE’s recent consultation on proposed updates to CAR 2012, although evidence gathered through that consultation will also inform the review. 

HSE is seeking feedback to help build a better understanding of how the regulations work in practice, with two surveys currently open:

Identifying the Presence of Asbestos Before Work Commences

This survey is aimed at workers and businesses who work with or around asbestos, including construction workers and other trades whose work could disturb asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).

HSE is seeking information on how asbestos risks are identified and managed in practice, including awareness of asbestos, access to information and training, and the challenges workers may face when undertaking work that could disturb ACMs.

Complete the survey: Review of CAR 2012: Identifying presence of asbestos before any work commences

Asbestos Surveyors

HSE is also seeking views from asbestos surveyors about their experiences of working under CAR 2012.

The survey looks at the practical challenges involved in identifying asbestos, carrying out surveys and providing information to support the effective management of asbestos risks.

Complete the survey: Review of CAR 2012: Asbestos Surveyors

Both surveys close at 11:59pm on 16 September 2026.

FIS is encouraging members to complete the relevant survey and share their experience to help inform HSE’s review and provide insight into how CAR 2012 operates in practice.

The draft Competence Framework for Specialist Furniture Technicians has now been published, with the wider industry invited to review the framework and contribute to the consultation.

Developed through an industry-led process, the framework aims to establish a clear understanding of the knowledge, skills and behaviours required of specialist furniture technicians.

SITEWORKS has supported and coordinated the development of the framework, working alongside an industry steering group whose knowledge, experience and constructive challenge have helped shape the draft.

The next stage is to hear from the wider industry.

Businesses and individuals are being encouraged to share the draft framework within their organisations and professional networks, particularly with those involved in specialist furniture, procurement, project management, installation, training, design and construction.

Have your say

This is an important opportunity for the industry to help shape a framework that reflects the realities of specialist furniture work and the competencies required within the sector.

Industry professionals are encouraged to:

• READ the draft Competence Framework
• FEEDBACK through the consultation form
• JOIN the live Industry Q&A on Tuesday 15 September at 2pm

The consultation form also provides an opportunity to register for the Q&A session and submit questions in advance.

An industry-led framework

While SITEWORKS has been proud to help coordinate and lead the development process, the framework has been shaped by the expertise and experience of the industry steering group.

The consultation now provides an opportunity for the wider sector to build on that work, challenge the proposals where appropriate and ensure the final framework is relevant, practical and reflective of industry needs.

Everyone with an interest in specialist furniture and the development of competence within the sector is encouraged to get involved.

Review the framework, provide your feedback and register for the Industry Q&A here.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is currently reviewing the effectiveness of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022, including the extension of PPE requirements to so-called “Limb (b) workers”. This has regularly been raised as an issue for the finishes and interiors sector in H&S Working Group Meetings.  FIS is preparing a formal response on behalf of members. The consultation closes at 23.59 on 18 September 2026.

FIS is working on and intends to share a draft response next week, giving members time to comment before the deadline. In the meantime, the organisation wanted to flag some of the key themes emerging from our discussions and encourage members to pass relevant information to FIS and to respond directly with the HSE consultation.   The draft response focuses on a number of practical concerns that have been raised by members:

• Confusion over how “Limb (b) worker” status should be applied within common construction labour models.
• The disconnect between CIS tax status, employment law definitions and site compliance requirements.
• Uncertainty around who is responsible for providing PPE in labour-only subcontracting, gang labour and agency arrangements.
• Differing interpretations by clients, auditors and contractors, creating compliance risk and inconsistency.
• Questions around worker-owned PPE, particularly safety footwear.
• The interaction between respiratory protective equipment (RPE), facial hair policies and equality obligations.
• The need for practical, construction-specific guidance rather than reliance on broad legal definitions.

FIS is actively seeking to confirm member views and provide examples of specific situations where confusion has arisen, challenges encountered in the tender process related to costings for safety provision whether this is consistently reviewed, practical issues on site associated with the regulations, how you are currently interpreting the rules and any case studies related to cost of compliance.  Please send any comments or information to iainmcilwee@thefis.org

Further information on this subject and the challenge in interpretation is available via the April 2026 SpecFinish edition in an article written by lawyers DAC Beachcroft LLP and further information is available to FIS Members via FIS published guidance that was written when the regulations were introduced.

FIS is strongly encouraging businesses in the sector to respond directly to the HSE consultation, as individual business experiences will add weight to the sector’s collective voice.  The consultation can be viewed here –  Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations

Further details and the FIS draft response will be circulated next week with the FIS newsletter – if you wish to sign-up for the newsletter click here.