Established under the Building Safety Act 2022, the Building Safety Regulator was introduced in response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s 2018 report following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The regulator operates within the Health and Safety Executive and is tasked with setting standards for the design and construction of higher-risk buildings—defined as buildings of at least 18 metres in height or with seven or more storeys containing at least two residential units.

While the Regulator oversees standards for these high-risk buildings, it does not directly approve lower-risk buildings. Instead, it regulates Building Control bodies and inspectors who hold that responsibility.

Some stakeholders in the housing sector have raised concerns about the pace of approvals, citing delays that may impact the delivery of new homes.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton said:

“The safety of residents in higher-risk buildings was at the heart of the Building Safety Regulator being set up in 2022.

The Committee wants to hear from all stakeholders to find out if the Building Safety Regulator has the skills and resources required to ensure the safety of all buildings and their residents in the process of approving applications for high-rise buildings. This is crucial if the Government is going to achieve its manifesto target of building 1.5 million homes over the next Parliament.”

The Committee is now seeking written evidence from building industry professionals, housing associations, local authorities, resident groups, safety experts, and other stakeholders. Areas of interest include the effectiveness of the Regulator’s framework, clarity of the approvals process, staff competency, and how the UK’s approach compares to international systems.

Written submissions are invited by Sunday 31 August 2025. Public evidence sessions will take place between June and September, with a report expected to be presented to the House in the autumn.

Those wishing to contribute can read the full Call for Evidence and submit their views online via the UK Parliament website.

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