New Building Safety Regulator

New Building Safety Regulator

10:23 AM, 29th October 2019, About 5 years ago 1

Text Size

Dame Judith Hackitt has been named as the government adviser on the new Building Safety Regulator, which will have the power to apply criminal sanctions to those breaking the new rules.

A respected expert in building safety, Dame Judith Hackitt will provide independent advice to the government on how best to establish the powerful new Regulator. The appointment follows Dame Judith’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, in which the government committed to take forward all of her recommendations and go further, by forming a new national Building Safety Regulator.

The Regulator will oversee the design and management of buildings, with a strong focus on ensuring the new regime for higher-risk buildings is enforced effectively and robustly. It will also have the power to apply criminal sanctions to building owners who do not obey the new regime.

The Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick, said: “I am grateful that Dame Judith has agreed to advise my department on the new Building Safety Regulator.

“Her expertise will be essential to forming a strong Regulator with teeth to ensure all residents are safe, and feel safe, in their homes both now and in the future.”

Further information

Dame Judith Hackitt was commissioned by the government to review building regulations and fire safety following the Grenfell Tower fire. Dame Judith published her Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety in May 2018 and the government committed to take forward all of her recommendations.

The government published the consultation on its reforms, Building a Safer Future, in June 2019 and is currently analysing the responses.

The government’s proposed new legislation will ensure building owners and developers prioritise residents’ safety over profit and will:

  • provide clearer accountability for, and stronger duties on, those responsible for the safety of high-rise buildings throughout design, construction and occupation
  • give residents a stronger voice in the system, ensuring their concerns are never ignored and they fully understand how they can contribute to maintaining safety in their buildings
  • strengthen enforcement and sanctions to deter non-compliance with the new regime in order to hold the right people to account
  • require that developers of new build homes must belong to a New Homes Ombudsman

Share This Article


Comments

Frederick Morrow-Ahmed

14:33 PM, 2nd November 2019, About 5 years ago

Excellent choice. A chemical engineer from Imperial! Worked for Esso/Exxon. Will know their prescriptive "Blue Book" and Design Manuals. Will know exactly what to do. Time to throw out the rubbish HHSRS, waffle waffle. Throwing all the responsibility on to hapless landlords, shirking it for themselves (ie Councils, Government, a la Keith Vaz)

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now