Building Control Reform
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is comprehensively reforming building control regulations, including changes to external walls, load-bearing walls, and higher-risk building work categorisation. Multiple bills are progressing to modernise safety systems, improve proportionality, and establish a single construction regulator. The reforms also address energy performance standards for buildings.
2026
Oral evidence — Building Owners and Managers — 2026-04-22
Plan approval requirements for new builds and fire safety order buildings — consultation opened
We are seeking views on amendments to submission and approval of plans in building control applications for new dwellings and buildings to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies.
Improving Building Safety Systems in Higher-Risk Buildings and Beyond
UIN: HLWS1486 My Honourable Friend the Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy (Samantha Dixon MBE MP) has today made the following statement:An effective and efficient building control system underpins the fundamental safety of homes and communities across th...
Redefining Category A building work consultation — consultation opened
This consultation seeks views on proposals to improve the proportionality of the building control process for Category A and Category B building work to existing buildings under the higher-risk building (HRB) control regime (‘the regime’). The consultation also seeks views …
Proportionality in building control: categorisation of higher-risk building work — consultation opened
Seeking views on proposals to improve proportionality of 'Category A' and 'Category B' building work applications in the higher-risk regime.
Improving proportionality and safety outcomes in building control: telecommunications work — consultation closed
We are seeking views on proposals to change application requirements for telecommunications work within the higher-risk building regime.
Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime — outcome published
Consultation on changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs), and air conditioning inspection reports (ACIRs).
Improving proportionality and safety outcomes in building control: telecommunications work — consultation opened
We are seeking views on proposals to change application requirements for telecommunications work within the higher-risk building regime.
Single construction regulator prospectus
We are seeking views on government’s proposals for regulatory reform and the development of a single construction regulator.
Building control: charges, notices and certificates — consultation closed
We are seeking views on reforms to charges for local authority building control services.
Building control: charges, notices and certificates
In response to: Building control: charges, notices and certificates
Equality analysis for local authority building control changes
In response to: Building control: charges, notices and certificates
Assessment of impacts
In response to: Building control: charges, notices and certificates
2025
Building control: charges, notices and certificates — consultation opened
We are seeking views on reforms to charges for local authority building control services.
Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime — consultation closed
Consultation on changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs), and air conditioning inspection reports (ACIRs).
2024
Building Inspectors
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to give local authorities primary responsibility for building inspections. Answer: The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) registers and sets competency standards for …
Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime — consultation opened
Consultation on changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs), and air conditioning inspection reports (ACIRs).
Construction: Regulation
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of having a single construction regulator. Answer: It is important that government carefully considers the findings and recommendations …
2023
Sprinklers in care homes, removal of national classes, and staircases in residential building — consultation closed
Consultation proposal on options to recommend sprinklers in care homes, remove national classifications from Approved Document B, and recommend a maximum height threshold for the use of one staircase in blocks of flats.
2022
Sprinklers in care homes, removal of national classes, and staircases in residential building — consultation opened
Consultation proposal on options to recommend sprinklers in care homes, remove national classifications from Approved Document B, and recommend a maximum height threshold for the use of one staircase in blocks of flats.
2021
Domestic smoke and carbon monoxide alarms — outcome published
We are seeking views on proposals to extend the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015.
Call for Evidence - Review of Architectural Regulation — consultation closed
Ministerial Foreword The United Kingdom’s architectural sector is one of the best in the world – with first-class educational institutions, world-leading practices and a healthy export market. The United Kingdom also has a vibrant small and medium sized ent
Call for Evidence - Review of Architectural Regulation — consultation opened
Ministerial Foreword The United Kingdom’s architectural sector is one of the best in the world – with first-class educational institutions, world-leading practices and a healthy export market. The United Kingdom also has a vibrant small and medium sized ent
Consultation on proposed amendments to the Architects Act 1997 — outcome published
We are seeking views on proposals to strengthen the regulation system for UK registered architects and improve competence of the profession.
Consultation on proposed amendments to the Architects Act 1997 — consultation closed
We are seeking views on proposals to strengthen the regulation system for UK registered architects and improve competence of the profession.
Domestic smoke and carbon monoxide alarms — consultation closed
We are seeking views on proposals to extend the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015.
2020
We see no justification for the provision in clause 12 empowering the Secretary of State to abolish the Building Advisory Committee, the Committee on Industry Competence and the Residents’ Panel, and can see no circumstances in which this power would ever sensibly be used. We recommend that clause 12 be amended to delete the Secretary of State’s power to abolish.
We see no justification for the provision in clause 12 empowering the Secretary of State to abolish the Building Advisory Committee, the Committee on Industry Competence and the Residents’ Panel, and can see no circumstances in which this power would …
We strongly recommend that the Government include provisions in the Bill itself for establishing a national system of third-party accreditation and registration for all professionals working on the design and construction of higher-risk buildings.
We strongly recommend that the Government include provisions in the Bill itself for establishing a national system of third-party accreditation and registration for all professionals working on the design and construction of higher-risk buildings. Type: conclusion | Number: 31 | …
We are concerned that the Bill only removes dutyholder choice in respect of higher- risk buildings. As a result, the majority of building control work will remain exposed to the weaknesses and conflicts of interest identified by Dame Judith Hackitt. We see no good reason not to replace dutyholder choice with a system of independent appointment for all out-of-scope work.
We are concerned that the Bill only removes dutyholder choice in respect of higher- risk buildings. As a result, the majority of building control work will remain exposed to the weaknesses and conflicts of interest identified by Dame Judith Hackitt. …
We recommend that dutyholder choice be removed entirely from the building control system and replaced by a system of independent appointment, and that this be made explicit either in the Bill or in secondary legislation to be published alongside it.
We recommend that dutyholder choice be removed entirely from the building control system and replaced by a system of independent appointment, and that this be made explicit either in the Bill or in secondary legislation to be published alongside it. …
We understand the concern from the private building control profession about the conflict of interest arising from the regulator’s dual role as building control body for higher-risk buildings and regulator of the building control profession. While we recognise that starting afresh with this Bill would be time-consuming, this is an issue which needs to be addressed if there is to be public confidence in the new system.
We understand the concern from the private building control profession about the conflict of interest arising from the regulator’s dual role as building control body for higher-risk buildings and regulator of the building control profession. While we recognise that starting …
The Government should provide clear justification for combining in one body both regulation of the industry and decision-making in relation to higher-risk buildings. If this is desirable, there must be a clear statutory requirement that those involved in decision-making about individual cases of professional competence are wholly operationally independent of those involved in regulation of higher-risk buildings.
The Government should provide clear justification for combining in one body both regulation of the industry and decision-making in relation to higher-risk buildings. If this is desirable, there must be a clear statutory requirement that those involved in decision-making about …
We understand the argument that local authority building control teams should be audited in the same way as registered building control approvers, and we are only partially convinced by the provisions allowing for the duties of a failing local Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Building Safety Bill 63 authority to be transferred to another local authority. We think the Bill should make explicit provision for the regulator to monitor and assure the competency of local authority building control, ...
We understand the argument that local authority building control teams should be audited in the same way as registered building control approvers, and we are only partially convinced by the provisions allowing for the duties of a failing local Pre-legislative …
We recommend that the Bill place an explicit duty on the regulator to monitor and assure the competence of local authority building control teams through provisions comparable to those for the registration of building control approvers, perhaps by mandating UKAS accreditation for all LABC teams. (Paragraph 132) Occupation
We recommend that the Bill place an explicit duty on the regulator to monitor and assure the competence of local authority building control teams through provisions comparable to those for the registration of building control approvers, perhaps by mandating UKAS …
Domestic smoke and carbon monoxide alarms — consultation opened
We are seeking views on proposals to extend the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015.
Consultation on proposed amendments to the Architects Act 1997 — consultation opened
We are seeking views on proposals to strengthen the regulation system for UK registered architects and improve competence of the profession.
House building statistics: proposed changes — outcome published
We are seeking views on making changes to the content and focus of the long running House building; new build dwellings statistics series.
House building statistics: proposed changes — consultation closed
We are seeking views on making changes to the content and focus of the long running House building; new build dwellings statistics series.
House building statistics: proposed changes — consultation opened
We are seeking views on making changes to the content and focus of the long running House building; new build dwellings statistics series.
2018
Review of the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations 2015 — outcome published
We are seeking views on the effectiveness of the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015.
Review of the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations 2015 — consultation closed
We are seeking views on the effectiveness of the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015.
2017
Review of the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations 2015 — consultation opened
We are seeking views on the effectiveness of the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015.
Architect regulation and the Architects Registration Board: outcome of the review
Outcome of the DCLG review of architect regulation and the Architects Registration Board.
2015
2010 to 2015 government policy: building regulation
In response to: 2010 to 2015 government policy: building regulation
2010 to 2015 government policy: building regulation
Ensuring that building regulations are fair, efficient, up to date, safe and effective.
2014
Building regulations certification of domestic electrical work: government response
2013
Building Regulations (External Retaining and Load-Bearing Walls) Bill — First reading
A Bill to amend the Building Regulations (2010) to include regulation of external retainig and load-bearing walls; and for connected purposes.
2011
Building Regulations (Review) Bill [HL] — Bill 181 2010-12 (as brought from the Lords)
Building Regulations (Review) Bill [HL] — First reading
A Bill to make provision for a review of the Building Regulations 2000 with regard to the installation of automatic fire suppression systems in new residential premises. Originated in the Lords.
Building Regulations (Review) Bill [HL]
Third Reading 15:07:00 Bill passed and sent to the Commons.
Building Regulations (Review) Bill [HL]
Report 15:06:00 Report received.
Building Regulations (Review) Bill [HL]
Committee 12:54:00 Clause 1 : Review of the Building Regulations 2000 Amendment 1 Moved by 1: Clause 2, page 1, line 12, leave out “No person shall” and insert “It is an offence to” Lord Harrison: My Lords, I apologise …
Building Regulations (Review) Bill [HL] — Amendment Paper: Amendment to be moved in Committee as at 7 February 2011
2010
Building Regulations (Review) Bill [HL]
Second Reading 00:00:00 Moved By Lord Harrison That this Bill be read a second time. Lord Harrison: My Lords, earlier this year I introduced a Bill on building regulations and said: “The Bill’s ambition is to save the lives of …
Building Regulations (Review) Bill [HL] — Lords stages
A Bill to make provision for a review of the Building Regulations 2000 with regard to the installation of automatic fire suppression systems in new residential premises.
Building Regulations (Review) Bill [HL] — Bill 7 10-11
Building Regulations (Review) Bill [HL]
First Reading A Bill to make provision for a review of the Building Regulations 2000 with regard to the installation of automatic fire-suppression systems in new residential premises. The Bill was introduced by Lord Harrison, read a first time and …