Fundamental Review of Building Regulations Guidance Panel established

Last December, the Government announced that the Building Safety Regulator would be leading a fundamental review of the Building Regulations guidance centred on how that guidance is produced, structured and presented. The Fundamental Review of Building Regulations Guidance Panel members will support and inform the process. Each of the six appointees boast extensive experience across a range of sectors.

Dinah Bornat is a renowned advocate for people-centred development and the director and co-founder of ZCD, a research-led practice based in London with a keen focus on residential, community and commercial projects. Bornat has served as a design advocate for the Mayor of London and also as an advisor to local authorities and developers.

Dan Rossiter serves as the built environment sector lead at the British Standards Institution and vice-president (technical) at the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists. He has previously provided his expertise to several national committees relating to information management and technical documentation in the built environment.

Danielle Michalska-Morris is the director of research and technical innovation at Taylor Wimpey and brings an expert knowledge and experience of low carbon building design and building services to the fore.

Rachel Ferguson is senior development manager at Pocket Living. She has extensive expertise in affordable housing and brings her broad experience in planning (including strategic masterplans, estate regeneration projects and new build residentials) to the Guidance Panel.

Technical expert Professor Luke Bisby is the chair of fire and structures and director of discipline at the University of Edinburgh. He served as an expert witness to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and brings particular expertise in the subject of fire safety.

Former technical director for the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, Dr Hywel Davies served as the previous chair of the DLUHC’s Statutory Committee and the Building Regulations Advisory Committee. He brings broad expertise on a range of technical areas.

The Guidance Panel will provide an interim update in early 2026 and a final report in the Summer of next year.

Important step

Alex Norris, the Minister for Building and Fire Safety, observed: “The appointment of this Guidance Panel is an important step in our response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Guidance which supports compliance with the Building Regulations must be clear, accurate and practical, as well as being subject to regular updates to ensure it remains effective.”  

Norris added: “The work of the Guidance Panel will support our delivery of 1.5 million new homes by making compliance easier, improving safety and quality in construction and ensuring greater confidence in the building safety system. I look forward to receiving the Guidance Panel’s recommendations.”

The Building Regulations set the minimum required standards for building work, referred to as the ‘functional requirements’. The Approved Documents contain general guidance on the performance expected of materials and building work, including practical examples of how to achieve compliance in common building situations.

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Panel raised concerns about the way that the statutory guidance is expressed. In April 2023, the responsibility for updating and keeping Approved Documents under review was transferred to the Building Safety Regulator, in line with its duty under the Building Safety Act 2022 to keep under review the safety and standards of buildings.

As stated, the Building Safety Regulator was commissioned by the Government in December to conduct a fundamental review of the statutory guidance. As such, the new Guidance Panel has been appointed to inform this work.