{"id":519607,"date":"2025-04-30T12:45:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T11:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=519607"},"modified":"2025-04-30T12:02:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T11:02:29","slug":"unlocking-progress-how-to-make-building-safety-work-for-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/sections\/long-reads\/opinion\/unlocking-progress-how-to-make-building-safety-work-for-growth-30-04-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Unlocking progress: How to make building safety work for growth"},"content":{"rendered":"
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George Downing is the founder and chairman of Downing Group<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I understand the importance of ensuring safer buildings,\u00a0particularly\u00a0considering\u00a0the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The government has demanded stronger regulations to prevent future disasters. However, the current implementation of the gateway system is creating unnecessary delays that are hindering progress, stifling innovation, and threatening the UK\u2019s competitiveness in critical sectors.<\/p>\n

\u201cA revised system should allow for a staged approval process\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While the intent behind gateways two and three is commendable, the reality is that the process is not functioning as intended. With target review periods of 12 weeks and 8 weeks respectively, developers are increasingly facing extended approval timelines \u2013 often stretching to 20 weeks or more. These delays are adding significant costs, introducing uncertainty, and in some cases, causing up to a year\u2019s delay on important developments.<\/p>\n

This is particularly concerning given the government\u2019s stated ambition to use planning and development as engines of economic growth. Unfortunately, the Building Safety Act, in its current form, is acting as a barrier to that goal. If we are to unlock investment and accelerate delivery, a more pragmatic, streamlined approach is urgently required.<\/p>\n

A better way<\/h3>\n

A revised system should allow for a staged approval process, where safe and preparatory works can proceed while later-stage approvals are still under review.<\/p>\n

A staged application would facilitate an earlier start on site with each phase of works being approved in advance of that stage commencing.<\/p>\n

This approach would allow, for example, \u00a0enabling works and substructure packages to be approved and commence on site, whilst the detailed design of the superstructure is still progressing.<\/p>\n

This would ensure that project momentum is maintained without compromising on the overarching safety objectives.<\/p>\n

Equally, the Building Safety Regulator must be better resourced and supported to cope with the current volume of applications. The lack of communication and the absence of clear guidance on the regulations are making it increasingly difficult to manage timelines, costs and stakeholder expectations. A commitment to improve responsiveness, reduce bottlenecks and provide consistent clarity on requirements in essential.<\/p>\n

These challenges are not theoretical. Downing currently has eight key projects scheduled to begin on site within the next 18 months across major UK cities including Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Brighton and London. These developments are not just infrastructure \u2013 they represent jobs, homes, investments into local economies and opportunities for innovation and growth.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, building safety reform should not be about red tape; it should be about delivering better, safer buildings more effectively. To achieve that we need a regulatory framework that supports progress, not one that unintentionally obstructs it. We call on the government to invest in building control capacity, streamline the gateway process, and deliver a regulatory environment that enables both safety and delivery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

George Downing is the founder and chairman of Downing Group I understand the importance of ensuring safer buildings,\u00a0particularly\u00a0considering\u00a0the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The government has demanded stronger regulations to prevent future disasters. However, the current implementation of the gateway system is creating unnecessary delays that are hindering progress, stifling innovation, and threatening the UK\u2019s competitiveness in …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":519610,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[559,567],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n