Building Safety Regulator reforms to speed up development

The government have announced their intention to reform the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to speed up newbuild applications being renewed, in a bid to boost development.

The reforms to the BSR include a Fast Track Process to speed up decisions, as well as leadership and a funding boost, to push the UK to having 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament, the target Labour have set for themselves.

The BSR is an independent body established by the Building Safety Act (2022) and is part of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. In the aftermath of the Grenfell disaster, the government asked HSE to establish BSR.

The reforms announced today (30th June 2025) pave the way for the creation of a single construction regulator, a key recommendation from the Grenfell Inquiry.

Andy Roe KFSM has been appointed as non-executive chair of anew board of the Ministry of Housing, communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to take on the functions of the BSR as part of initial steps towards creating a single construction regulator.

Alex Norris, minister for building safety, said: “The establishment of the BSR has been fundamental to centralising safety in the construction process and its time to take the next steps to build on that precedent and create a system that works for the sector whilst keeping residents and their safety at the heart of the process.

“That’s why we’re announcing a package of reforms to the BSR today to enhance operations, reduce delays, and unlock the homes this country desperately needs—delivering on our Plan for Change.”