Councils urge MPs to prevent Building Safety Bill creating ‘two-tier’ safety system

The Local Government Association (LGA) is urging MPs to back amendments to the Building Safety Bill to protect the future residents of new buildings under 18 metres not covered by the scope of the Bill,

The Building Safety Bill will establish a Building Safety Regulator (BSR) within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to implement a new, more stringent, regulatory regime for higher-risk buildings. These are defined as residential buildings, care homes and hospitals over 18m.

However, the Bill leaves residential buildings under 18 meters out of scope. This, the LGA claims, will create a two-tier system where buildings below 18 metres will face less rigorous safety regulations than buildings over 18 metres.

Daisy Cooper MP, who is also LGA Vice-President,  has tabled amendments to the Building Safety Bill that both protect councils from additional burdens and protects residents in properties not covered by the scope of the Bill.

Cllr David Renard, housing spokesperson at the LGA, said: “The Building Safety Bill, along with the Fire Safety Act, are important pieces of legislation will strengthen the building safety system in the UK.

“The LGA has long-warned about the need for building safety reforms to avoid creating a two-tier building safety system which leaves buildings under 18 metres vulnerable and unprotected. The height of a building does not define the risk to its safety, as has been proven by a number of dangerous and potentially fatal fires in buildings below 18 metres.

“We urge MPs to back these amendments to ensure the extension of the Bill’s protection to those buildings under 18m that require it on the basis of risk is hardwired into the legislation.”