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The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has launched an inquiry into the effectiveness of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and its role in improving safety standards for high-rise residential buildings.
Chaired by Baroness Taylor of Bolton, the Committee will examine whether the regulator’s framework — introduced under the Building Safety Act 2022 — has made buildings safer and how it has affected the delivery of new homes and maintenance of existing high-rise blocks.
The inquiry follows concerns from parts of the housing sector that delays in BSR approvals may be slowing the pace of construction. Higher-risk buildings are defined as those at least 18 metres tall or with seven or more storeys and at least two residential units. While the BSR sets safety standards for these buildings, for lower‑risk structures it regulates the bodies that approve their construction.
The Committee is seeking evidence on whether the BSR has improved safety, whether its processes strike the right balance between flexibility and clarity, and how its work interacts with other challenges such as skills shortages, planning delays and supply chain pressures. It will also explore:
- The impact of the BSR’s processes on meeting government housing targets.
- The extent to which delays are due to the regulator’s resources, skills or processes.
- Whether approvals could be made more proportionate without compromising safety.
- If a shift from building-by-building approvals to organisation‑wide assessments would be beneficial.
- How well the BSR works with building control authorities and product safety regulators.
Individuals, developers, housing bodies and other stakeholders are encouraged to submit written evidence by 31 August 2025. The Committee says extensions will only be granted in “truly exceptional circumstances”.
Contributors are invited to share their direct experience of the regulator’s framework, including positive examples and challenges, to help inform recommendations on the future of building safety oversight.
Further details on the inquiry and how to submit evidence are available on the UK Parliament website.
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