Chair and deputy chair appointed for Building Advisory Committee

Lane is a Fellow of Arup and a chartered senior engineering executive with 30-plus years’ experience of operating across a wide variety of sectors within the built environment. Importantly, she served as an expert witness for Phase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry from 2017 to 2024.

Davies has served on the Building Advisory Committee since its inception and is currently head of technical insight at the Chartered Association of Building Engineers. Additionally, he serves on several distinguished industry groups and chaired the Building Advisory Committee’s predecessor body (namely the Building Regulations Advisory Committee) from 2020 to 2023.

The appointments of Dr Lane and Dr Davies to these senior roles “represents the start of an important transition” for the Building Advisory Committee.

The Building Advisory Committee is wholly committed to strengthening its role as a key source of advice and support to the Building Safety Regulator alongside the Industry Competence Committee, chaired by Jon Vanstone and the Statutory Residents’ Panel, which is currently in the process of recruiting its own independent chair.

Dr Lane and Dr Davies are already liaising closely with the Building Safety Regulator to ensure a smooth leadership transition. The strategic direction of the Building Advisory Committee is being considered to ensure that it works in conjunction with the Building Safety Regulator “to deliver maximum impact”.

The shared ambition is to drive real change across the sector and act as a positive influence on the regulator, the Building Advisory Committee and the regimes operating under the Building Safety Act 2022.

Powerful force   

Dr Barbara Lane stated: “Taking on this independent role is part of my ongoing commitment to create a safe and equitable built environment. One that works for everyone. I believe that the Building Advisory Committee can be a powerful force for good across the sector, building on the harsh lessons learned from the Grenfell Tower fire. Ultimately, my aim is to try and remedy the shortcomings exposed in our building standards in order to protect and improve the lives of millions throughout the country.”

Dr Hywel Davies added: “I’m pleased to be appointed deputy chair and supporting Dr Lane in her new role. The Building Advisory Committee has a critical role to play supporting the Building Safety Regulator in its work to improve the building safety regime, identify risks posed to building users and provide consistent and timely standards and guidance that can meet the complex challenges we face today.”

Charlie Pugsley, acting CEO of the Building Safety Regulator, observed: “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome both Dr Lane and Dr Davies to their new roles on the Building Advisory Committee. Together, they bring a wealth of expertise garnered from successful careers working in the built environment and will make a real difference to the positive impact of the Building Safety Regulator, the Building Advisory Committee and regimes under the Building Safety Act 2022.”

Pugsley concluded: “Their combined knowledge and skills will be invaluable when it comes to informing and supporting our mission to ensure safer homes and buildings for all.”