Building Control Alert: The Building Safety Regulator has confirmed that AIS Surveyors Ltd, a Registered Building Control Approver (RBCA), has ceased trading. Additionally, Assent has not registered to become an RBCA. As a result, it is anticipated over 50 higher-risk building projects currently in progress will need to reapply to the HSE for building control approval. The BSR has written to developers as work on these projects must pause until their applications are validated by the BSR. Members are encouraged to verify that their projects are not impacted, as the BSR does not have a full list of all affected projects.
Sir Martin Moore-Bick announced that the Phase 2 report of the Grenfell Inquiry will be published on September 4th. This will be a critical moment as recommendations are expected regarding competence, building regulations and enforcement. BESA will be responding to the report once published.
Criminal trials for Grenfell fire will not start until 2027. The Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said charges will not be announced until late 2026 with prosecutions likely to take place the following year. A total of 19 firms or organisations and 58 individuals are currently under investigation by a team of 180 dedicated officers and staff.
Experienced Building Inspectors who registered at Class 1 before 6 April have less than a month left to complete their competence assessment and upgrade their registration to Class 2, 3 or 4. Any Registered Building Inspectors who have not done so by 6 July will only be able to undertake building control work under supervision.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has won a landmark legal challenge against freeholder Grey GR forcing it to fix serious building safety issues in Vista Tower in Stevenage.