BUILDING SAFETY REGULATOR GETS A CHIEF INSPECTOR

The Building Safety Regulator announced as part of Building Safety Bill published in July 2020 is a key component of the Government’s reforms of the building safety system following the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the recommendations made in the subsequent review of building regulation and fire safety

The HSE have been given the task of setting up the Building Safety Regulator which will oversee the safe design, construction and occupation of high-risk buildings. It will be independent and give expert advice to local regulators, landlords and building owners, the construction and building design industry, and to residents.

The Regulator will have powers to prosecute offences and will be able to issue compliance (requiring action to be taken) and stop (requiring work to halt until an issue is addressed) notices. Failure to comply with compliance and stop notices will be a criminal offence, with a maximum penalty of up to two years in prison and an unlimited fine. Where an offence is committed by a corporate body with the consent or connivance of a director, manager etc, or is attributable to their neglect, that person will also be liable to be prosecuted.

The HSE have now announced that Peter Baker, their current Director of Building Safety and Construction, has been appointed as Chief Inspector of Buildings and will take on the tole of leading the new regulator.

The full announcement can be found on the HSE’s website at: https://press.hse.gov.uk/2021/02/16/hse-announces-new-chief-inspector-of-buildings/

Please speak to your normal PIB Risk Management contact or get in touch using [email protected] if you have any questions about managing building safety or would like to arrange a fire risk assessment for your premises.