The decision – a key recommendation of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry – means the BSR will move from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to become an arm’s-length body under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Originally established in 2021 in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, BSR’s full powers came into force under the Building Safety Act 2022.
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According to a statement, the move to standalone status is underpinned by a significant ‘operational reset’ in BSR’s role as the building control authority for higher-risk buildings.
BSR chair Andy Roe said: “While the creation of BSR in 2021 was a watershed moment, today is about looking forward to a single construction regulator that brings coherence to a once-fragmented system.
“We will know we are successful when residents acknowledge we have made the built environment safer.
“Today is about continuing to support homes being built safely while fulfilling our primary mission: ensuring we are all building better and living safer, together.”
Restoring resident confidence
Charlie Pugsley, acting chief executive officer of BSR, added: “By driving professional competence and refining regulatory guidance, we can ensure a holistic approach that spans from initial design through to lifelong building management.
“Our commitment to robust enforcement and cultural transformation serves a single, vital purpose in 2026 and beyond – restoring resident confidence and trust in the built environment.”
The regulator has faced criticism that delays at Gateway 2 – which requires developers to secure approval from the BSR before work can begin on high-rise schemes – are hampering the government’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes.
In a recent update, the BSR said it remains “cautiously optimistic” that it will meet projected milestones for Gateway 2 following the introduction of its Innovation Unit and new efficiency measures.
