Working Group brings forward proposals for regulation of building control profession

The Working Group is comprised of representatives from the Association of Consultant Approved Inspectors, the Chartered Association of Building Engineers, the Construction Industry Council, the Construction Industry Council Approved Inspectors Register, the Chartered Institute of Building, Local Authority Building Control, the National House Building Council and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Constituent members have produced proposals for regulation of the building control profession following discussion with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Reform of the building control sector is an important part of the Building Safety Programme and responds to recommendations made in the reports that have emanated from Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety relating to competence of the building control profession.

The eleven recommendations are viewed as a starting point for further dialogue with Government and the Building Safety Regulator as to how best to protect the public interest by making sure the sector further improves competence among professionals and organisations alike.

The key recommendations put forward include:

*Steps to simplify and unify building control legislation, process and procedures

*An independent designated body to oversee professional registration and organisational audit

*Introduction of a new competence framework to cover all individuals working in building control (including those working on higher risk buildings in scope of the new regulator)

*A unified pan-industry Code of conduct for all Building Control Bodies and professionals

*A unified pan-industry career structure to set clear expectations of competence across the building control sector

A statement issued by the constituent members of the Working Group reads: “These recommendations are a potentially key part of the reform of the construction sector. They suggest a consistent plan to make sure building control professionals and the bodies they work for are competent and effective. We are all committed to working together to further improve the essential public protections building control delivers. These proposals will help everyone to have confidence that building control is working first and foremost in the interest of their safety and welfare and in supporting the development of an inclusive and sustainable built environment. We look forward to engaging more widely in the sector to discuss these recommendations. We are also keen to move to the next stage of dialogue with Government and the building safety regulator to work up proposals for reform in more detail.”