Regulator recruiting built environment experts for Building Advisory Committee

Established under the Building Safety Act 2022, the Building Advisory Committee (BAC) puts residents’ safety and confidence at the heart of its advice. It provides independent advice and information to the Building Safety Regulator, helping to ensure robust evidence and critical thinking inform policy decisions that protect people and improve building safety standards.

The cross-sector insight that’s energised also aims to anticipate emerging risks, enable safe innovation and provide detailed technical support for a safer, more equitable and sustainable built environment.

The planned recruitment will broaden expertise and refresh membership as both the Building Safety Regulator and building safety itself evolve. It’s an opportunity to contribute independent advice, systems thinking and equitable and innovative protection methods to the work of the BAC. 

Vital source of information

Currently chaired by Dr Barbara Lane (who has nearly 30 years’ worth of experience in engineering and building safety and served as an expert witness during the Grenfell Tower Inquiry), the BAC is committed to strengthening its role as a vital source of information.

To expand and support work of the BAC, applications are being sought from a variety of different sectors including academia, design, construction, fire safety, housing, risk management and safety and regulatory spheres.

The BAC will provide evidence, advice and information from across the built environment, reflecting the whole building lifecycle and the broad range of disciplines and trades upon which effective safety and risk management relies.  

The BAC is now seeking dynamic individuals who can help shape its future work and contribute towards improving outcomes across the built environment through independent advice, insight and constructive challenge. 

About the roles

The Building Safety Regulator is currently looking to fill the following positions on the BAC:

Academic (built environment) Contributing expertise derived from leading education and research programmes relevant to the built environment sector and providing evidence-based insight into issues affecting the safety, sustainability and performance of the built environment

Building contractor (construction) Contributing expertise in the delivery of residential and commercial construction projects (including new-build, refurbishment and remediation works)

Building control (private) Contributing expertise from a registered building inspector operating within a Registered Building Control Approver

Building services engineer Contributing expertise in the design, performance and operation of building services that support safe, comfortable and sustainable indoor environments

Construction industry practitioner (supply chain) Contributing expertise in the construction industry supply chain (including collaborative supply chain leadership, sector growth and stakeholder engagement)

Fire safety specialist Contributing practitioner expertise in fire safety risks, resilience and engineering practice

Inclusive design (accessibility and inclusive design practitioner) Contributing expertise in accessibility and inclusive design across the built environment

Local authority housing provider Contributing expertise in the provision and management of local authority housing, including higher-risk buildings

Private sector higher-risk buildings representative Contributing expertise from the occupied private higher-risk building sector, including the commercial, investment and development considerations that shape the management of private residential assets

Public sector registered building inspector (Class 3H) Contributing expertise from a registered building inspector operating within a local authority Building Control function

Risk expert: organisational/large scale (risk management professional) Contributing expertise in the identification, assessment and management of organisational, systemic and large-scale safety risks across the built environment 

Structural safety specialist Contributing expertise in structural risk, resilience and engineering practice

BAC members will be appointed for three years and can expect a time commitment of 15 days per annum. These are voluntary roles, but incurred expenses will be reimbursed.

Next phase of development

Dr Barbara Lane said: “The building safety landscape is continuing to evolve, bringing new challenges, opportunities and expectations of the construction industry. Joining the BAC offers a unique opportunity to contribute to work that’s of national importance and help shape the future of building safety.”

Further, Dr Lane stated: “Successful candidates will engage with experts from a broad range of disciplines, demonstrating the rigorous approach that drives well-founded independent advice. This will ensure better regulatory outcomes and improvements in safety for everyone in the built environment.” 

In conclusion, Dr Lane noted: “The urgent need for both new homes and for work to remediate defective homes requires a radical commitment to creating practical safety measures.”

Charlie Pugsley, acting CEO of the Building Safety Regulator, observed: “The BAC is both practical and influential and offers a unique opportunity to use professional expertise for real-world challenges and help shape the future of the built environment.”

Pugsley continued: “Building on the appointment of Dr Lane as the independent chair of the BAC, we are now looking for new members who will bring fresh thinking, deep expertise and constructive challenge to the fore.” 

Pugsley concluded: “This will help to support the Building Safety Regulator’s strategic aim of enabling the building of safe new homes, raising standards in existing homes and helping to create a culture where safety and accountability, as well as transparency, are part of everyday practice in the built environment.”