I had the great pleasure of presenting live at CIH Housing 2021, outlining the key obligations set out in the published Building Safety Bill. Presenting in person certainly made a change from presenting from my spare room/office.

It was good to see a full house with standing room only, which perhaps reflects the desire on the part of the housing sector to anticipate what will be required of them under the new building safety regime. The implications of the Building Safety Bill are wide-ranging and will impose significant obligations upon those involved in the planning, construction and management of Higher Risk Buildings.

While we have advised providers to consider at an early stage how they will be able to comply with their obligations, they will also need to ensure they can be flexible in their approach. Significant changes have already been made since the draft bill was first published, including important changes in relation to the role of the building safety manager and the inclusion of care homes and hospitals for the purposes of the construction phase only.

Further change is likely as Parliament scrutinises the Bill and beyond that, the Bill itself provides powers for the Secretary of State to change important elements of the regime, including the definition of a higher risk building (HRB). As a result, we could in future see the scope of the Bill widened to include buildings lower than 18m or to address particular areas of risk.

As providers seek to understand and prepare for their obligations, we have developed a range of support tools including; presentations for boards and operational teams, briefings, a detailed advice note and a workbook designed to help prepare for the steps required and review the progress made. If you would like further information on how we can support you in preparing to meet your obligations under the Bill please contact firesafety@anthonycollins.com.