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Building Safety Regulator
23 October 2025
Lead MP
Chris Curtis
Milton Keynes North
Lab
Responding Minister
Samantha Dixon
Tags
Employment
Word Count: 11270
Other Contributors: 9
At a Glance
Chris Curtis raised concerns about building safety regulator in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Will the Minister confirm whether the Building Safety Regulator will have the flexibility to offer market rates to attract experts who can process complex applications quickly and accurately?
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Seventy-two people lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire, necessitating proper accountability and testing in the building industry. However, developers and councils report that schemes are stuck due to delays in remediation decisions and approval processes, with 22,000 homes awaiting a decision and 33,000 new homes waiting for approval, leading to a 73% drop in housing starts in London over the past year.
Chris Curtis
Lab
Bolton West
Welcomed the Minister and thanked colleagues for their contributions. Emphasised the importance of building safety, referencing his brother's role as a firefighter in high-risk incidents.
Danny Beales
Lab
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Describes the housing crisis in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, highlighting delays and rejections under the Building Safety Regulator's (BSR) process. Points out that 70% of gateway 2 applications were rejected or invalidated.
Gareth Bacon
Con
Orpington
Discussed the building safety regulator's performance and its impact on housing development, highlighting delays in construction projects due to excessive regulation.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Compliments the Government for their commitment to deliver 1.5 million homes but highlights the need for local building safety regulations in Northern Ireland, noting positive relationships with local councils.
Joe Powell
Lab
Kensington and Bayswater
Joe Powell highlighted the need for radical reform of Britain’s building safety regime following the Grenfell Tower fire, stressing ongoing delays in remediation projects and advocating for a more efficient Building Safety Regulator. Introduced context of the debate focusing on the need for safer homes post-Grenfell disaster, supporting the call for reform.
Luke Taylor
LD
Sutton and Cheam
Luke Taylor congratulated MPs on securing an important debate on building safety, focusing on the need for transparency and accountability in the regulatory process.
Mike Reader
Lab
Northampton South
Echoed concerns about the adverse impact of the Building Safety Regulator on safe, affordable housing. Highlighted poor performance and risk-averse approach despite sound principles. Raised industry frustrations and delays in construction projects due to BSR.
Neil Coyle
Lab
Bermondsey and Old Southwark
338 council homes at the Bermondsey biscuit factory have already been held up for 54 weeks despite the BSR's supposed 12-week turnaround time.
Richard Tice
Reform
Boston and Skegness
The hon. Member for Boston and Skegness warns of the potential consequences of overly cautious regulation, which could lead to developers abandoning projects in city centres due to high costs and fear of regulatory hurdles.
Government Response
Samantha Dixon
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Government Response
Acknowledges concerns raised regarding delays and operational challenges. Announced a transfer of the Building Safety Regulator from the Health and Safety Executive into a new dedicated body under the Department to ensure accountability and focus on safety. A statutory instrument enabling this move is expected next month. The Minister has been impressed by the hands-on approach of Andy Roe, non-executive chair of a new board within the Department tasked with initial steps towards an integrated single construction regulator. Additionally, changes have improved gateway 2 processes, including the implementation of a batching process for category A projects and recruitment of 100 new staff to boost capacity. Discussed improvements to the Building Safety Regulator, including weekly meetings with industry bodies, introduction of an account manager model, and publication of new guidance. Highlighted progress on gateway approvals and plans to legislate for a single construction regulator.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.