The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has today (27 January 2026)
officially moved to a standalone
organisation, paving the way for the creation of a
single construction regulator - a key recommendation of the
Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
The move from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
to an arm's-length body under the Ministry of Housing,
Communities and Local
Government, represents a significant
moment for the built environment.
Originally established in 2021 in response to the
Grenfell Tower tragedy, BSR's full powers came into force under
the Building Safety Act
2022. Having benefitted from
the expertise of the HSE to set up
and establish the foundations required for
a new regulator, today's transition signals a renewed
commitment to putting residents at the heart of
everything BSR does.
As a new organisation, BSR will work
towards establishing a single
regulator by promoting competence and higher
standards. It will drive the vital culture change
required by everyone working in the built environment to support
this government's ambition to build more, safe homes, and
remediate those which are unsafe.
The move to standalone status is underpinned by a significant
‘operational reset' in BSR's role as the building
control authority for higher-risk buildings.
Following the introduction of its Innovation Unit and
new efficiency measures, the regulator's operational delivery is
fast improving. This progress demonstrates a commitment
to combine regulatory experience with industry knowledge to
target guidance and education where it is needed most.
, Chair of BSR, said:
Today is a decisive and important step in strengthening building
safety and a milestone that marks our evolution into a standalone
regulator. While the creation of BSR in 2021 was a watershed
moment, today is about looking forward to a single construction
regulator that brings coherence to a once-fragmented
system.
We will know we are successful when residents acknowledge we have
made the built environment safer.
Today is about continuing to support homes being built safely
while fulfilling our primary mission: ensuring we are all
building better and living safer, together.
Charlie Pugsley, Acting Chief Executive Officer of BSR,
said:
Today is a significant new chapter for BSR, with a clear signal
that while we must continue to focus on improving our
operational delivery for both new build homes and occupied HRBs,
our mandate extends far beyond high-rise oversight to a
broader responsibility for safety and standards across
buildings in England.
By driving professional competence and refining regulatory
guidance, we can ensure a holistic
approach that spans from initial design through to
lifelong building management.
Our commitment to robust enforcement and cultural
transformation serves a single, vital purpose in 2026
and beyond - restoring resident confidence and trust in
the built environment.
, Building Safety Minister
said:
Everyone deserves to live in a safe home and we are determined to
deliver lasting change to make this a reality.
The Building Safety Regulator sits at the heart of this mission,
and today launching a new body is an important step in realising
sector wide reform.
I look forward to working with the new leadership team on our
journey towards the Single Construction Regulator.
Mark Reynolds, Executive Chair of Mace Group and
Chair of the Construction Leadership Council
(CLC) said:
Over the last twelve months we've seen a very tangible shift in
how BSR has worked with the Construction Leadership Council and
developers across the country, and the result has been a more
effective process, enabling safer buildings to be commissioned
and delivered faster.
The UK needs confidence that the construction industry, the
regulator and government are all working together to deliver new
and safe housing at scale – and I believe this moment marks a
major step forward on that journey.
As an independent body and working under the leadership of
Charlie and Andy I have no doubt we'll see more positive progress
during 2026.
Notes to editors
BSR is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by
the Ministry of Housing,
Communities and Local Government. It regulates
higher-risk buildings and improves competence across the whole
built environment, raising safety standards for all buildings in
England.
Established in 2021 as a response to the Grenfell Tower
tragedy, BSR is central to the government's building safety
reforms. It's full statutory powers are granted under
the Building Safety Act
2022.
For more information visit:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/building-safety-regulator
https://buildingsafety.campaign.gov.uk/
