Apartments and offices sitting next to a body of water

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  • Following the initial statement issued on 18 October 2024, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has carefully considered the views expressed by the Tribunal in the First-Tier Tribunal decision dated 03 July 2024. 
     
    The department recognises the need for greater clarity within the legislation.  We are consulting the Building Safety Regulator and other relevant stakeholders on a proposal to amend the Higher-Risk Buildings (Descriptions and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations 2023.

    The aim is to clarify that roof gardens are not considered storeys when determining whether a building is a higher-risk building under section 120D of the Building Act 1984 and section 65 of the Building Safety Act 2022.  
     
    In the meantime, the department’s view remains that roof gardens are not storeys for these purposes.  This is the basis for current government guidance, which the sector and regulatory bodies should continue to refer to.

    Click here to check the criteria for higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act.

    • Building Safety Act
    • Legislation, Regulations & Guidance
  • Today, Thursday 24 April, UK Finance has published an update to the current lender statement on cladding. This update covers:

    • Reliance in the mortgage journey on EWS1 forms more than five years old; and
    • The scenario of an EWS1 form in the mortgage journey by an invalid signatory

    Leaseholders and prospective buyers will now have more clarity on purchasing homes with building safety issues, following a key update from mortgage lenders and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) regarding EWS1 forms. 

    To read the UK Finance lender statement update in full  CLICK HERE 

  • The HSE has made some improvements to its guidance for building control approval for higher-risk buildings.

    Visit GOV.UK to view:

    • Building control approval for higher-risk buildings
    • Preparing information for a building control approval application
    • Making changes to a higher-risk building project
    • Applying for a completion certificate

    After listening to the experiences of people using the guidance, the updates will better support the needs of those preparing to, or applying for, building control approval from BSR.

    • Building Safety Regulator
  • Government updates

    Machinery of Government – UK Parliament

    In response to one of the recommendations from the Grenfell Phase 2 Inquiry report the Prime Minister confirmed that responsibility for fire will move from the Home Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.  

    This change will bring responsibility for building safety and fire under a single Secretary of State, providing for a more coherent approach to keeping people safe from fire in their homes.

    View the statement in full

  • Training with BSR

    HSE now offers regular online and in-person courses aimed at Principal Accountable Persons, industry and more.

    Upcoming courses cover:

    • Introduction to the Building Safety Regulator and Building Safety Act  
    • Introduction to the role of Accountable Persons and Principal Accountable Persons
    • Introduction to the role of Client, Principal Designer and Principal Contractor  
    • Developing accompanying documents for the Building Control Process

    Get further information about BSR training courses