2024 in Review: Transformation for Building Safety in England

For the Building Safety Regulator, the Building Safety Act 2022 has been about turning plans into action. Think of it like moving into a new home – exploring the space, tackling immediate priorities and laying the groundwork for improvements.

The Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry’s Phase 2 final report remains a stark reminder of why our work matters. It challenges the industry to learn from past mistakes and ensure residents’ safety and well-being are at the heart of every decision. Let’s take a closer look at what made 2024 such a defining 12 months for building safety.

Building Safety Regulator in action

Since our May 2024 conference, which marked a new era for building safety, the Building Safety Regulator has become fully operational. This isn’t business as usual, though. Rather, it’s a generational shift in terms of how the construction industry operates. The Building Safety Act introduced new frameworks and principles that require fresh thinking and collaboration.

Our post-conference survey reinforced this commitment: 71% of the 1,300 delegates reported a good or otherwise full understanding of their responsibilities, while nearly half (ie 47%) said they intended to make significant changes to their working practices going forward.

Throughout 2024, we’ve worked to embed these principles. By setting consistent Building Control standards and holding those managing higher-risk buildings to account, we’ve laid strong foundations for lasting change.

Facing challenges head-on

July brought one of our biggest challenges when an unexpected surge in applications, driven by external industry issues, caused delays in processing Building Control applications. We acted quickly to keep things on track, putting contingency measures in place, such as recruiting additional staff and securing industry support. These steps are already having a positive impact, in turn helping us to manage the increased demand.

At the same time, we remained wholly focused on delivering our responsibilities, while in parallel staying true to our core principles: transparency, proportionality and accountability.

Supporting industry through change

We’re committed to overseeing the safety and compliance of higher-risk buildings, while supporting industry to deliver safe and successful projects. The new Gateway processes, introduced in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, are central to raising safety standards.

We know that adapting to a new system takes time. That’s why we’re working closely with industry leaders: listening to feedback, strengthening our advice and providing clearer guidance designed to help applicants navigate this process with confidence.

Shifting the culture of safety

Building safety is about more than meeting regulations. It’s about transforming how we work and think. At the heart of this shift is competence. It’s not a box to tick, but an ongoing responsibility.

Professionals must ask themselves:

*do teams have the skills and attitudes needed to deliver safe outcomes?

*are we remaining within our expertise and improving our knowledge?

*what more can we do to embed safety into everything that we do?

Regulations are the starting point, but real change comes when we take shared accountability for raising standards and driving safer outcomes.

Empowering residents

Building safety isn’t just about technical standards. It’s also about people and their homes. At the Building Safety Regulator, we’re committed to putting residents’ safety at the heart of everything that we do.

It’s not enough for people to be safe; they also need to feel safe. That means knowing that their homes are secure, their concerns are heard and that their voices matter.

In 2024, the ‘Your Home, Your Safety’ campaign helped high-rise residents in England to understand their new rights under the Building Safety Act 2022. We focused on ensuring they know how safety risks in their building are being managed, where to find clear and accessible safety information and how to raise concerns and access straightforward guidance.

Our residents’ panel continues to provide invaluable insight, ensuring that the voices and lived experiences of those residing in high-rise buildings shape our work and decisions.

Lessons learned

Change isn’t easy, but it’s essential. 2024’s challenges have only strengthened our resolve. One clear message has emerged: those who create risks must be held accountable for managing them.

As Gateway 3 progresses, we’re focusing on verifying compliance during the final stages of construction. Managing design changes to maintain safety standards will be a critical priority.

What’s ahead in 2025

In 2025, we’ll continue strengthening the regulatory framework, improving competence across the sector and amplifying residents’ voices. Our mission goes beyond compliance. It’s about rebuilding trust and creating a safer future.

This year, we’ll work with Government, industry regulators, fire authorities, Mayors and local leaders to accelerate remediation for those higher-risk buildings still affected by unsafe cladding. Collaboration will be key to driving this critical work forward.

Another priority will be modernising the Approved Documents framework, in particular by consulting on a revised Approved Document B, which covers fire safety. By simplifying and clarifying these rules – and notably so for smaller builders – we aim to make compliance more accessible and straightforward. A public consultation is expected by early autumn.

Building momentum together

The progress we made in 2024 proves what can be achieved when we work together. There’s still more to be done. Professionals, policymakers and residents alike all have a role to play in shaping a safer built environment.

The Building Safety Regulator is committed to carrying the lessons of 2024 into the future. Together, we can turn this transformation into a lasting legacy of safety, trust and accountability.

Philip White is Chief Inspector of Buildings at the Health and Safety Executive (https://buildingsafety.campaign.gov.uk/)