The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has published its latest Building Control Gateway 2 performance data, covering the 12-week rolling period to 1 August.

The figures show continued improvements in approval rates and determination times across several higher-risk building (HRB) categories. Overall, Gateway 2 applications achieved an approval rate of 82%, while approvals for existing building remediation reached 85% nationally and 92% in London.

The BSR’s Innovation Unit has also reported significant progress since its establishment in August 2025. The current approval rate for non-complex cases stands at 91%, compared with 39% before the unit was established, while median approval times have reduced from 43 weeks to 22 weeks.

Gateway 2 performance

Over the latest 12-week period, the BSR made 349 Building Control decisions across all HRB categories, approving 287 applications, an overall national approval rate of 82%.

For new higher-risk buildings and conversions, the approval rate, excluding invalidations and withdrawals, reached 91%, with a median approval time of 22 weeks. In London, the approval rate was 93%, with a median determination time of 23 weeks.

The BSR made 45 decisions on new-build projects during the period. Approved projects represent 7,587 residential units. Of those decisions, 27 related to projects in London, with 25 approved, representing 3,841 residential units.

Nationally, the BSR is currently managing 131 live new-build and conversion applications representing 30,421 units.

Existing building remediation

Existing building remediation has also seen improved performance, with the national approval rate reaching 85%, ahead of the BSR’s 65% target for the end of 2026. In London, the approval rate reached 92%.

The BSR determined 110 remediation applications during the 12-week period, with approved projects representing 7,433 residential units.

The number of outstanding legacy applications from 2024 has reduced from 42 at the beginning of the year to 13.

While older cases recorded a median approval time of 34 weeks, applications submitted during 2026 have a median determination time of 21 weeks. The BSR attributes this improvement to better application quality and streamlined internal processes.

There are currently 330 live remediation cases nationally, covering 28,778 residential units.

NHS applications

NHS applications are now being tracked as a separate category and recorded an approval rate of 84% nationally.

During the 12-week period, the BSR received 29 new NHS applications and made 19 determinations, approving 16. The median determination time was 24 weeks, falling to 13 weeks for applications submitted during 2026.

The BSR said its specialist team has been working closely with the NHS to support the particular requirements of healthcare projects, with some recent applications determined within the statutory eight-week timescale.

There are currently 36 active NHS cases nationally. In London, six of seven applications were approved, representing an approval rate of 86%.

Innovation Unit marks first year

The BSR’s Innovation Unit has now completed its first year of operation. Established to streamline the assessment of new-build applications, the unit brought multidisciplinary teams in-house and introduced measures including dedicated account managers, an internal consistency panel and tools to track outstanding issues.

Over its first year, the unit determined 102 applications, of which 76, or 75%, were approvals or approvals with requirements.

For non-complex cases, the unit is currently reporting an approval rate of 91% and a median determination time of 22 weeks. Before its establishment, the new-build approval rate stood at 39%, with a median approval time of 43 weeks.

The approach is now being extended to other areas of the BSR’s work, including remediation.

External remediation performance has also improved, with approval rates increasing from 47% to 85% and median approval times reducing from 43 weeks to 34 weeks.

Refurbishment and Gateway 3

Internal refurbishment works across Categories A and B currently have an approval rate of 77%, with a median determination time of 32 weeks. For applications submitted in 2026, however, the median determination time is 16 weeks.

Internal HRB works accounted for approximately 49% of all Gateway 2 decisions during the latest 12-week period. The BSR is currently managing 981 active internal works cases.

Early Gateway 3 data shows that 319 applications have been received, including 235 internal refurbishment projects, 47 transitional cases and 23 NHS internal refurbishments.

Of the 29 Gateway 3 applications determined during the latest 12-week period, 72% were approved. The median determination time was 16 weeks, with the quickest application determined in eight weeks.

No new-build projects that have progressed through Gateway 2 have yet reached Gateway 3. The BSR expects determination times to reduce as new processes are introduced and additional resources are put in place.

Transitional cases and major changes

The BSR is managing 69 transitional Building Control cases at Gateway 2. These include legacy projects transferred to the regulator after the Building Control body previously overseeing them ceased trading.

A further 47 transitional cases have been received at Gateway 3.

The regulator is also processing 181 live major change requests, with 112 requests closed. For new-build projects, the median closure time is currently seven weeks, which is one week above the statutory target.

BSR increases regulatory resources

To support the volume of applications and decisions, the BSR has expanded its internal and external resources.

Its current resourcing includes 176 internal staff: 100 regulatory leads, 15 principal regulatory leads, 56 case officers and five case officer managers.

The BSR is also supported by 506 external specialists, comprising 221 registered building inspectors, 111 Fire and Rescue Service professionals, 135 structural engineers and 39 other specialists.

Of these, 36 registered building inspectors, eight Fire and Rescue Service professionals and 20 structural engineers have been integrated directly into the Innovation Unit and external remediation team to help accelerate application processing.

The latest figures indicate that changes introduced by the BSR are beginning to improve both approval rates and determination times. For the fire safety sector, continued progress will be important as the regulator manages a growing caseload and more projects move through Gateway 2 and into Gateway 3.

Collaborative approach to safety

Charlie Pugsley, acting CEO of the BSR, said: “We are witnessing positive momentum in Building Control approvals across all categories, including critical work to upgrade NHS hospitals and facilities. This progress is a direct result of our targeted improvement plans and closer and more collaborative work with the NHS to resolve technical issues early in the design phase.”

Pugsley continued: “By scaling up our resources and deploying integrated teams of registered building inspectors, fire and structural engineers, we are successfully clearing older legacy applications and accelerating determination times for new projects.”

Further, Pugsley noted: “The first year of our Innovation Unit’s operation also highlights this progress, showing how bringing specialist teams in-house can cut set-up times from months to days and safely unlock new developments.”

In conclusion, Pugsley observed: “While we remain absolutely focused on further improving our processes and supporting safe development across healthcare, housing and complex projects, our core commitment remains unchanged. We will never allow faster decision-making to compromise the safety of the people who will live in, visit or work within these buildings.”

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