Building Safety: a giant and a long horizon

I’m confident that most, possibly all of our readers whenever they hear the words “building safety” these days, experience a mixture of mild panic and confusion. Such has been the scale of post Grenfell output from the Government in terms of enquiries, legislation, reviews and consultations, guidance and updates, that today building safety appears like a giant in the distance, yet to reveal its full size and meaning to those involved in this country’s built environment, but already something not easily grappled with.

As I write this in March 2025, having read and digested a sizeable chunk of the aforementioned output over the nearly 8 years since the Grenfell fire, it feels though like the Government is only really just getting started.

Building safety post Grenfell started from a fire perspective for obvious reasons. Hence of the Approved Documents, so far the focus has been on Approved Document B (Fire Safety). But building safety is wider of course than just the risk of fire. For example S.62 of the Building Safety Act (within Part 4 of the Act that deals with Higher Risk Buildings) defines Building Safety Risk as: ………a risk to the safety of people in or about a building arising from any of the following occurring as regards the building— (a) the spread of fire (b) structural failure (c) any other prescribed matter. Also, throughout the Public Enquiry’s Phase 2 report, there are numerous references to the fact that safety goes wider than just fire. So you will note the current consultation on changes to Approved Document A (Structure), which covers loading and ground movement. See details of this consultation here.

Another way to contemplate the still long horizon for building safety change, is to read the final chapter (Our Next Steps) of the Government’s response in February to the Public Enquiry’s Phase 2 report here. With these words they capture something of the length and breadth of the road ahead: This is why we will deliver reform using a phased approach over the course of this Parliament, bringing together the recommendations directed at government and wider reform as coherent packages. These reforms are a central part of our upcoming long-term housing strategy, which alongside reforms to improve affordability through increased supply, will raise standards in the housing system, ensure tenants are prioritised and protected and lay the foundations for a fairer housing system in which residents can trust.

So don’t rest easy in your current state of mild panic and confusion. There is much, much more to come on building safety. Which leaves me only this to say: get in touch with Ridgemont if you need advice on building safety issues. As a specialist construction law team, inevitably in 2025 it forms a large part of what we do.