New industry guidance for negotiating with the building safety regulator

Published by: Construction Leadership Council (CLC), in collaboration with industry stakeholders and the BSR

Date: July 22, 2025

Why this guidance matters now

Since 1 October 2023, the BSR has been the statutory building control authority in England for higher‑risk residential buildings (e.g. seven storeys or over 18 m). Projects must now pass through three mandatory checkpoints before residents may occupy: Gateway 1 (planning), Gateway 2 (building control approval), and Gateway 3 (completion). (constructionleadershipcouncil)

What the CLC‑BSR guidance covers

The CLC produced a suite of seven guidance notes tailored specifically for Gateway 2 (Building Control Approval) submissions:

• Note 1: Overview of the Building Safety regime for new higher‑risk buildings
• Note 2: Ensuring a sufficient level of design development
• Note 3: Approval with requirements
• Note 4: Application information schedule
• Note 5: Project brief
• Note 6: Document management and submission best practices
• Note 7: Application strategy

Developed jointly with BSR and sector experts, including architects, local authority building control, Build UK, RIBA, and others. These notes aim to simplify submissions and promote consistent decision-making. (specificationonline)

Key benefits to applicants

• Clearer expectations
  Providers now have defined baseline principles for what the BSR expects, boosting transparency and reducing ambiguity in submission content and structure.
• Proactive collaboration encouraged
  The guidance promotes pre-application engagement between applicants and BSR, earlier involvement with local authorities and pragmatic dialogue on when projects can proceed safely.
• Improved application quality
  By following structured document schedules and clear submission formats, applicants can reduce invalid applications and minimise the risk of rejection due to incomplete or unclear information.

This guidance represents an important step in restoring confidence in the Gateway process. By grounding submissions in clear, pragmatic principles and coordinating more closely with the regulator, developers now have the tools to reduce delay, minimise risk, and deliver buildings that meet both safety and delivery goals.
However, its effectiveness will depend on broader reforms at the BSR, such as improving staffing, speeding decision times, and streamlining engagement processes. As these changes roll out through 2025, applicants who proactively align with the new guidance are likely to see smoother and quicker regulatory interactions, delivering safe, high-quality homes more efficiently.

Where to get it

• The full CLC guidance suite on Gateway 2 applications is available freely via the Construction Leadership Council’s website.

At Cavendish Professionals, we keep up to date with all updates in industry regulations, which is why we ensure our clients receive the most compliant, efficient, and future‑proof solutions possible.