Building Safety Regulator to leave HSE in January, Minister confirms

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will formally move out of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) early next year, the government has announced.

Building safety minister Samantha Dixon confirmed that the transfer to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will be completed by 27 January 2026. The change marks the creation of a new executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the MHCLG, which will take over the BSR’s functions.

The shift was first announced over the summer, with ministers describing it as part of wider reforms to strengthen oversight and improve accountability in the construction and building safety system.

Dixon said the move "will strengthen lines of accountability and give a dedicated focus to BSR operations," calling it "an important first step towards establishing a single construction regulator – the lead recommendation from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report."

She added: "I am grateful to HSE for the leadership and expertise it has provided in setting up and running the BSR, and for its continued support as this transition takes place."

The transfer will bring to a close the BSR’s initial period within the HSE, where it has operated since being established under the Building Safety Act 2022.