The regime changes tracker: what has changed, and what is coming
The Building Safety Act regime moves constantly: the 2023 switch-on, the 2025 BSR reset and batching reforms, the 2026 move to MHCLG, and the autumn 2026 second staircase and levy deadlines. This page is the running changelog, updated as the regime changes and verified against primary sources.
The changelog
Newest first. Every date verified against the primary source before publication.
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2026 (upcoming) | Building Safety Levy in force for new residential development; completion certificates withheld where levy overdue |
| 30 Sept 2026 (upcoming) | Second staircase mandate for new residential buildings over 18m, with transitional provisions |
| By March 2027 (target) | BSR target: non-complex Gateway 2 decisions in 18 weeks or less |
| April 2026 | Remediation Improvement Plan launched to accelerate the fixing of unsafe buildings |
| Spring 2026 | Legacy new-build Gateway 2 backlog cut to low single figures |
| 30 May 2026 (data) | Latest 12-week window: 358 decisions, 75% approval, Innovation Unit at 90%, batching median 12 to 14 weeks |
| 27 Jan 2026 | BSR becomes a standalone public body sponsored by MHCLG |
| Dec 2025 | Staged applications extended to single-tower HRBs; House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee publishes its BSR review |
| Sept to Dec 2025 | Batching pilot: applications bundled to external specialist assessors; Q4 decisions exceed 700 against roughly 200 in Q1 |
| July 2025 | First joint CLC and BSR Gateway 2 guidance suite published (updated Dec 2025 and June 2026); Build UK validation and application guides |
| June 2025 | BSR removed from HSE: Andy Roe chair, Charlie Pugsley CEO, 100+ new staff, Fast Track Process, Innovation Unit |
| Oct 2025 (low point) | Average Gateway 2 decision times peak at 43 weeks nationally, 48 in London |
| 4 Sept 2024 | Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report recommends a single construction regulator |
| 1 Oct 2023 | The switch-on: BSR becomes building control authority for all HRBs; Gateways 2 and 3 in force; dutyholder and competence regime (Part 2A) in force; section 156 fire safety amendments in force |
| 30 Sept 2023 | Deadline for registering existing higher-risk buildings |
| April 2023 | Higher-risk building registration opens |
| Aug 2021 | Planning Gateway One goes live: fire statements with planning applications |
| 28 April 2022 | Building Safety Act 2022 receives Royal Assent |
| May 2018 | Hackitt final report, Building a Safer Future |
| 14 June 2017 | Grenfell Tower fire. 72 people die. The catalyst for the entire regime |
What is on the horizon?
Beyond the dated entries above, two currents are worth watching. A government consultation is expected on proportionality reform for work to existing higher-risk buildings, which would recalibrate how the regime treats refurbishment against new build. And the Construction Products Reform programme continues in the background, carrying the Grenfell Inquiry's findings about testing and marketing of products toward legislation. Both will appear here, with sources, when they land.
The near-term pressure point needs no forecast: Gateway 3 volume rises through 2026 and 2027 as the approval wave completes on site, and the autumn double deadline will stress Gateway 2 intake on the way in. The data page and the tracker record how the system copes.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the next Building Safety Act deadlines?
- The second staircase mandate for new residential buildings over 18m takes effect on 30 September 2026, the Building Safety Levy comes into force on 1 October 2026, and the BSR targets non-complex Gateway 2 decisions in 18 weeks or less by March 2027. A consultation on proportionality reform for work to existing higher-risk buildings is also expected.
- How is this tracker maintained?
- Every entry is verified against primary sources, gov.uk, legislation.gov.uk and BSR publications, before it is added, and the page carries the verification date. When the regime changes, the change appears here with its source; when guidance we cover is updated, the affected pages are updated with it.
Related
This page is information, not legal advice. It is written and maintained by a practitioner, verified against primary sources on the date shown above, and corrected fast when the regime moves. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.