Government consultations

On this page we highlight recent and current consultations by the UK government in relation to cladding and building safety issues:

• DLUHC consultation on building control closes 14 March 2023.

• HSE Consultation on Professional conduct rules for Registered Building Control Approvers. Closes 17 February 2023.

• HSE Consultation on Code of conduct for registered building inspectors. Closes 17 February 2023.

• DLUHC Consultation on sprinklers in care homes, removal of national classifications from Approved Document B, and recommendations for a maximum height threshold for the use of one staircase in blocks of flats. Closes 17 March 2023.

• Consultation on the Building Safety Levy (proposed to fund a scheme for works to existing medium rise (11-18m) residential builds in certain circumstances). Closes 7 February 2023.

• Consultation on Building safety directors sets out proposals on the appointment of a building safety director to support resident-led organisations with their duties under the Building Safety Act. Closes 12 January 2023.

• DLUHC call for evidence seeking information on leaseholder-owned buildings above 11m or 5 storeys with relevant defects, in order to inform policy. Closed 14 November 2022.

• HSE consultation on the operational standards of the Building Safety regulator. Closed 25 October 2022.

• Consultation on changes to Building Regs under part 4 of the BSA, relating to the “in-occupation phase” for higher risk buildings, such as registration, accountable persons and the golden thread. Closed 12 October 2022.

• Consultation on implementing the new building control regime for higher-risk buildings and wider changes to the building regulations for all buildings (under Part 3 of the BSA e.g. dutyholder and competence requirements, and gateways). Closes 12 October 2022.

• DLUHC consultation on Higher Risk Buildings (Descriptions and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations which complete the definition of ‘higher-risk building’ for the new building safety regime (but not for buildings included in the leaseholder protection scheme or the building remediation funds). The consultation closed at 11.45 pm on 21 July 2022

• February 2022: A Government Committee, set up to consider the Government’s January 2022 proposal for a “polluter pays” approach, has asked for written submissions by 16 February 2022 – process outlined here.

• Fire Safety Consultation 20 July 2020 to 17 March 2021: Fire safety - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Government response added on 17 March 2021 - Government Response to the Fire Safety Consultation - Wednesday 17 March 2021 - Hansard - UK Parliament

• November 2020 to 22 January 2021: Consultation on proposed amendments to the Architects Act 1997. Government response issued in June 2021. Note: further call for evidence on regulation of architects and the architectural sector between 16 August and 8 November 2021.

• 27 April 2021 to 20 May 2021: Consultation launched on new code of practice for external walls - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

• 29 April 2021 to 22 July 2021: Consultation on policy design of a Residential Property Developer Tax: Residential Property Developer Tax: consultation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• 21 July 2021o 15 October 2021: Consultation onthe design and calculation of the proposed Building Safety Levy: The Building Safety Levy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The charge will be in addition to fees payable to the Building Safety Regulator to cover their operating costs. Subject to the passage of the BSB, the government expects the levy to come into force alongside the new Gateway 2 process in 2023.

• Consultation on the new safety regime for occupied higher-risk buildings (Government response to building certification, safety case approach, mandatory occurrence reporting, residents’ voice, the golden thread, appeals, enforcement, and key building information published 17 August 2023)

• Consultation on implementing the new building control regime for higher-risk buildings and wider changes to the building regulations for all buildings (Government response published 17 August 2023)

• Changes to the building control profession and the building control process for approved inspectors (Government response published 17 August 2023)