The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has reported continued improvements in Gateway 2 performance, with an overall approval rate of 92% in the 12 weeks to 1 November 2026. A total of 370 applications were approved, representing 19,409 residential units.

The latest figures show improvements across new-build, conversion and remediation applications, alongside ongoing efforts to reduce determination times and address outstanding cases.

Key findings

• Overall approvals: The BSR made 403 Gateway 2 decisions, approving 370 applications (92%).
• New-builds and conversions: Approval rates reached 95% nationally and 97% in London, with a median determination time of 20 weeks.
• Existing building remediation: Approvals reached 93% nationally and 98% in London, covering 9,956 residential units.
• NHS healthcare projects: Of 21 applications determined, 18 were approved (86%), with a median determination time of 20 weeks.
• Internal refurbishments: The BSR approved 199 of 218 applications (91%), with a median determination time of 30 weeks.

New-build and conversion applications

The BSR approved 40 of 42 new-build and conversion applications, representing 9,453 residential units. London accounted for 29 approvals, covering 6,733 units.

Nationally, 24,689 homes are under construction, with a further 24,833 approved but not yet started. The BSR is currently managing 183 live new-build and conversion applications, representing 39,843 units.

Remediation applications

The BSR's External Remediation Improvement Plan continues to deliver improvements, with 113 of 122 applications approved during the reporting period.

The number of outstanding remediation applications dating from 2024 has fallen from 42 at the beginning of 2026 to five, with clearance targeted by the end of November.

While the national median determination time remains at 32 weeks, newer applications are progressing in approximately 22–26 weeks.

The BSR also highlighted the importance of application quality, reporting that well-prepared submissions progress around 50% faster than poorer-quality applications.

Building Safety Levy and application volumes

Ahead of the Building Safety Levy's introduction on 1 October 2026, the BSR recorded a rise in applications, with 64 submitted in September compared with 34 in August and 17 in July. Submissions subsequently fell to six in October.

The regulator introduced additional measures to manage demand, including enhanced validation, application triage and senior management oversight. It reiterated that submissions failing to meet statutory requirements may be rejected.

Internal refurbishments and Gateway 3

Internal refurbishments accounted for 54% of all Gateway 2 decisions nationally, with a 91% approval rate. The BSR is managing 1,116 active refurbishment applications and plans to increase resources to improve processing times.

At Gateway 3, no new-build projects that have passed Gateway 2 have yet reached final assessment. Current cases include 138 internal works projects, 16 NHS projects and ten external remediation projects.

Implications for the sector

The latest figures indicate continued progress in the BSR's processing of higher-risk building applications. However, application quality and timely responses to requests for information remain critical to avoiding delays.

For the fire safety sector, the data reinforces the importance of accurate, complete and compliant submissions to support effective regulatory assessment and maintain progress through the building control process.

View the source.

Our eNews provides regular insight into industry trends, news headlines, and product and service information. For more articles like this Subscribe to our enews.