The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has issued a call for evidence for its short inquiry into the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).
The inquiry will focus on reports of delays to approvals by the regulator for new high-rise buildings and maintenance of existing buildings.
The committee is seeking evidence from building industry specialists, housing associations, architects, resident groups, safety experts, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders on a number of questions, including:
+ has the introduction of the BSR improved the safety of the buildings it is responsible for?
+ does the Building Safety Regulator’s regulatory framework strike the right balance between providing a holistic, outcomes-based view of safety and ensuring that developers and building owners understand what they are required to do?
+ what impacts could the framework have on the delivery of the Government’s housing targets?
+ to what extent are delays in approvals for high-rise buildings down to the regulatory processes used by the BSR?
+ are the BSR’s approval processes sufficiently clear and understandable to developers?
+ does the BSR have access to the skilled staff necessary to carry out multidisciplinary assessments of safety?
+ is the relationship between the BSR and building control authorities and inspectors working well?
+ how does the Building Safety Regulator’s work relate to the regulation of construction products?
+ how does the Building Safety Regulator’s regulatory framework compare to how building safety is assured in other countries and jurisdictions?
Baroness Taylor of Bolton, chair of the Industry and Regulators Committee, said: “The safety of residents in higher-risk buildings was at the heart of the Building Safety Regulator being set up in 2022.
“The Committee wants to hear from all stakeholders to find out if the BSR has the skills and resources required to ensure the safety of all buildings and its residents in the process of approving applications for high-rise buildings.
“This is crucial if the government is going to achieve its manifesto target of building 1.5 million homes over the next Parliament.”
The complete list of questions, plus details how to submit evidence by the deadline of Sunday 31 August 2025, can be found on the Committee’s website.
The inquiry will hold its first evidence session on Tuesday 24 June by hearing from developers and housing associations.
