Gateway 2 Approvals Gain Momentum

The Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) latest building control Gateway 2 update shows overall application approvals rising to 84%, with more than 18,000 residential units clearing the gateway.

Over the same period, existing building remediation approvals also climbed to 89% nationally (up from 85%) and 96% in London (up from 92%).

New Build, Conversion and Complex Projects

Over the latest 12-week period, BSR made 50 decisions on new build projects, approving 92% of applications. These approved schemes represent 9,362 new residential units.

For comparison, in the 12 weeks to August 2025, the median approval time was 43 weeks and the approval rate was 39%.

Most new build activity continues to take place in London, which accounted for 31 of the 50 national decisions.

BSR approved 28 of these 31 projects in London, representing a regional approval rate of 90% and unlocking 4,477 residential units. The median determination time in London was 23 weeks for non-complex cases.

London currently represents 65% of all in-progress new build applications and 61% of the total residential units under active assessment. Nationally, BSR is managing 147 live new build and conversion applications, representing 32,691 individual units.

Nationally, there are 33 live complex cases under active management, with a median determination time of 33 weeks. London is managing 23 of these complex proposals, with a median determination time of 32 weeks.

New Build Inspection Regime

The number of new builds that have commenced work have grown to 126 projects.

However, BSR’s inspection programme has uncovered a small number of examples where building work has not conformed with agreed designs and required some remedial work.

The Regulator says it will monitor this closely and will take a ‘robust position’ where appropriate, to help ensure that safe designs are translated into safe buildings.

Existing Building Remediation

Targeted operational measures under BSR’s external remediation plan, introduced in April 2026, have driven improvements in existing building remediation.

BSR determined 118 remediation applications over the 12-week rolling period, approving 105 projects (an 89% national approval rate) representing 8,667 residential units. In London, the regional remediation approval rate reached 96%.

BSR says it has also reduced outstanding legacy applications in the system. The volume of remediation cases dating from 2024 has fallen from 42 at the start of the year to 12.

These older, more complex applications had an overall rolling 12-week median determination time of 33 weeks as teams worked to resolve historic design and safety issues.

Newer remediation applications submitted during 2026 are progressing through the system more quickly due to early design collaboration.

BSR is currently managing 327 active remediation cases nationally, representing 28,274 residential units.

NHS Applications

Over the rolling 12-week period, BSR made 22 determinations on building control applications for NHS healthcare facilities – including hospital maintenance, expansions and structural upgrades – approving 18 for an 82% national approval rate and a median determination time of 22 weeks.

For NHS applications submitted in 2026, the median determination time has fallen to 13 weeks, with some recent projects securing approval within the statutory 8-week timeline.

London accounted for a significant share of healthcare upgrades, achieving a 78% NHS approval rate with 7 projects approved from 9 determinations. The median determination time in the capital was 33 weeks, reflecting the complexity of urban hospital sites.

Nationally BSR is managing 32 active NHS building control cases.

Driving Momentum

Charlie Pugsley, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Building Safety Regulator, said: “Our latest performance figures show that we are successfully driving momentum in building control assessments and approvals for more than 18,000 residential units.

“Overall Gateway 2 approvals have reached 84% with new HRBs currently tracking at 92%, while remediation projects are moving through the system much faster, achieving an 89% national approval rate. This progress is a direct result of our expanded technical workforce and closer, earlier collaboration with applicants.

“While we are pleased to see determination times reducing, particularly for new builds under our Innovation Unit, existing remediation projects and key NHS developments, we remain steadfast in our core mission.

“As buildings progress through the inbuild phase to Gateway 3, we continue to enhance and refine systems and processes to ensure that safe designs are translated into safe buildings.

“As we continue to streamline our processes and introduce proportionate building control updates, such as the recent telecommunications measures, the safety of residents and our communities remains at the heart of what we do.

“The strict duty holder, functional and competence requirements of the Building Safety Act and Building Regulations remain fully in force to protect the public.”

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