Calls for Urgent Action on Building Safety Regulator Delays
The Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) is urging the UK government to address severe delays caused by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) approval process, which is significantly impacting the construction sector. These delays, far exceeding the expected 12-week timeline, are stalling high-rise, commercial, and residential developments—particularly in London and other urban areas.
Since the introduction of the new regulatory framework in April 2024, only a limited number of projects have received approval, leaving FPS members struggling with design finalisation hold-ups and a lack of incoming work. The delays are causing a domino effect across the geotechnical, demolition, and wider construction supply chains, creating uncertainty in an already fragile market.
And according to freedom of information research by consultancy Project Four, more than 90 major new-build projects are stuck in a bottleneck awaiting Gateway 2 design approval to start work. Just 11 new-build jobs are reported to have cleared Gateway 2 checks, although only two of these are understood to have passed through the present checking regime. The delays are also holding up retrofit works on over 600 existing High Risk Buildings (HRB) classified as over seven storeys or 18metres.
While the FPS fully supports the Building Safety Act and the role of the BSR in improving safety and accountability, the prolonged approval times are proving unsustainable. Many FPS members are now considering job cuts and reduced investment—moves that could worsen existing skills shortages when projects eventually move forward.
FPS Chair Malcolm O’Sullivan warned: “Approval times of six months or more are simply not viable. These delays are undermining investment, recruitment, and the government’s target of 1.5 million new homes over the next five years.”
The FPS is calling for clearer guidance, increased resources for faster approvals, and closer collaboration between the BSR and industry stakeholders. Without urgent reform, the sector faces significant instability, threatening the UK’s ability to meet its housing and infrastructure goals.