Building Safety Act Update: Progress, Challenges and a More Accountable Industry

By Build Zone

Share

The Building Safety Act continues to reshape the UK construction and development landscape, with the past year bringing further clarity, firmer enforcement, and gradual cultural change across the industry. While early discussions, including Build-Zone’s 2025 podcast, highlighted uncertainty, delays, and a lack of readiness, there is now more visible progress as the framework beds in.

The Growing Role and Capability of the Building Safety Regulator

A key development has been the growing role and capability of the Building Safety Regulator. Throughout 2025 and into 2026, the Regulator has expanded its oversight and refined its processes, particularly around the gateway system for higher-risk buildings. Gateway Two approvals remain a pressure point, with some delays still reported, but there is increasing consistency in how applications are reviewed. This has helped developers and design teams better understand expectations, reducing the trial and error approach that characterised the early stages.

The concept of the golden thread is also gaining traction. Dutyholders are becoming more adept at maintaining accurate, accessible digital records across the lifecycle of a building. This shift is not just about compliance, but about improving accountability and long-term building management. Technology adoption has accelerated as a result, with more projects investing in structured data systems from the outset.

Competence across the industry has seen measurable progress. New frameworks and registration requirements for building inspectors and control professionals are now in place, with stricter oversight aimed at raising standards. However, skills shortages remain a concern, particularly for specialist roles tied to higher-risk buildings. Training and accreditation pathways are improving, but demand continues to outpace supply.

There has also been movement on remediation and developer responsibility. Major housebuilders have continued to commit funding towards fixing historical building safety issues, and government pressure has ensured that accountability remains a central theme. Leaseholder protections have strengthened, with clearer guidance on cost recovery and responsibility, helping to restore some confidence among residents.

For developers, the impact is still significant. Projects are taking longer to move through approval stages, and compliance costs have increased. Smaller developers in particular continue to feel the strain, balancing regulatory requirements with viability. That said, there is a growing acceptance that these changes are necessary to create a safer, more transparent built environment.

Joe Gooden, Build-Zone Director, said:

“While there are still some challenges in how the Building Safety Act is applied day to day, we are definitely seeing improvements in consistency and clarity. For Build-Zone, that means we can support our clients with greater confidence, help them navigate gateway requirements more efficiently, and ultimately keep projects moving while maintaining the highest safety standards.”

From an insurance perspective, the evolving regulatory landscape reinforces the importance of working with experienced providers backed by ‘A’ Rated insurers. As requirements become more complex, having the right technical and underwriting support in place is critical to keeping projects on track.

Overall, the Building Safety Act is moving from a period of disruption into one of adjustment and improvement. While challenges remain, the direction is clear. The industry is becoming more structured, more accountable, and ultimately better equipped to deliver safe, high-quality buildings for the future.

Latent Defects Insurance Policy Quote

Latest NewsPage 7

Construction site with multiple identical two-story houses at various stages of completion, surrounded by scaffolding and equipment.

Housebuilding in England hits highest level since 2007