Welcome

Christmas is only 11 weeks away and the inevitable countdown to year’s end has begun – however, the speed of change refuses to slacken.

In Scotland, the work of the Building Standards Futures Board continues with the launch of the Scottish Building Standards Hub, supporting competence among verifiers, alongside developing the role of the Compliance Plan Manager.

In Ireland, government has pushed ahead with extensive reform of fire safety regulations. Implementation of the Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 is ongoing – this will see contractors, sub-contractors and builders registered for the first time.

In England and Wales, publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Report Phase 2 has set out new challenges for industry and government.

While nearly all actions set out in the Inquiry Report are directed at government, it is important that institutions and individuals alike take time to reflect not only on the identified specifics, but on where the built environment industry is today.

It is worth recognising that in all construction markets across the UK and Ireland, there have been clearly evidenced – if different – failures, leaving buildings unsafe or unsound. It’s no surprise there’s a high degree of commonality across the themes of government initiatives as they seek to rebalance regulatory systems to bring the safer outcomes that society demands and rightfully expects.

These failures – and particularly those at Grenfell Tower – are the result of decades of regulatory systems being liberalised, coupled with intense commercial pressure to reduce cost and drive economic growth. This is a toxic combination. It is critical that we remain clear-sighted about the impact competing agendas can have on construction quality and compliance, particularly so with government ambition for higher levels of housebuilding and economy growth. These are to be welcomed, of course, but the question remains of how best to do so while ensuring building safety remains the priority.

Steps have already been taken to improve safety, including progressive revisions to fire safety standards across multiple jurisdictions based on lessons learnt. The Building Safety Act 2022 in England has provided stronger foundations in terms of accountability, enforcement, knowledge management and change control. But the Inquiry Report is clear – more is needed, including on product testing and certification, competence and further review of the regulatory system.

It is inevitable that this will create uncertainty, but the government in England has committed to providing clear direction on key matters within six months. Scotland’s devolved administration has established a working group to consider the Inquiry Report findings, and Wales is developing its own building safety legislation. Many of the recommendations will resonate in construction markets across the world.

While everyone wants to reach a steady state condition as soon as possible, it is also true that decades of decline cannot be reversed overnight. We are perhaps, to borrow a phrase, at the end of the beginning rather than the beginning of the end for reform. We must all continue to engage in a positive and mindful manner to ensure the lessons are learnt and not repeated.

Richard Harral Chief Executive Officer

Image credit | Samm Kerr