Regulatory overhaul continues as building safety reforms deepen across sector

The UK construction industry is facing continued upheaval as regulators and policymakers push forward with a wide-ranging programme of reform aimed at improving safety, competence and accountability across the built environment.

Speaking at the CABE Building Control Conference 2026, Building Safety Minister Samantha Dixon signalled that further changes are on the way, despite significant reform already under way since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.

The conference, which brought together senior figures from government, industry and regulation, highlighted the scale of transformation affecting building control professionals and the wider sector.

Dixon said the government remained committed to implementing all 58 recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report by 2029, with around 70% expected to be delivered by the end of 2026.

She described the Grenfell tragedy as exposing “profound and systemic failings” across construction and regulation, adding that urgent reform was essential to prevent a repeat of such a disaster.

A key milestone already achieved is the restructuring of the Building Safety Regulator, which has become a standalone body within government as part of moves toward a single construction regulator.

The regulator has also cleared a backlog of legacy building control cases and overhauled its gateway system, although Dixon stressed that industry must continue to improve the quality of applications submitted.

Further reforms are planned for construction products, with a new white paper aiming to strengthen testing, certification and enforcement across the supply chain.

Dixon emphasised that improving building safety is not just about regulation and products, but also about the competence of professionals.

Ongoing initiatives include defining the skills required for fire engineers, strengthening building control capacity, and developing a long-term strategy for professions across the sector.

However, speakers throughout the conference echoed the message that industry must take greater responsibility, embedding safety as a non-negotiable standard and working collaboratively with government.