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Building control sector can ‘operate as normal’ after deadline extension, says LABC boss
The head of the organisation which represents council building-control inspectors has welcomed a deadline extension for registration for a new post-Grenfell system.
Lorna Stimpson, chief of executive of Local Authority Building Control (LABC), has spoken out after the deadline to get inspectors certified under the new system, which had been 6 April, was extended by 13 weeks last week.
Ms Stimpson said: “LABC very much welcome the decision from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to introduce an extension until 6 July 2024.
“This will allow the building-control profession to operate as normal while they complete their competence assessment, while maintaining a much-needed sense of urgency to get their validation assessments done.”
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LABC’s chief executive had previously warned that a significant number of inspectors would miss the 6 April deadline, leading to a halt in building control certificates being issued and councils “unable to perform their statutory duties”.
Under the post-Grenfell Building Safety Act, building control is becoming a regulated profession, which means building inspectors have to prove their competence and register with the BSR.
Despite the deadline extension, Ms Stimpson said any inspectors who have not started the validation process should do so “immediately”.
She said: “The BSR has made it very clear that there will be no further extensions, and we are working with that in mind.
“We will continue to work with government and the BSR to ensure that the individuals within local authority building-control departments have the support they need so that they’re in a position to deliver services in line with the requirements of the building safety regime by 6 July.”
The BSR had come under pressure to extend the deadline after the Green Party’s former leader pressured the government by calling for “urgent action” over the impending building inspector crisis amid fears that construction work could “grind to a halt”.
Siân Berry, who is currently a member of the London Assembly, sent a letter to housing minister Lee Rowley at the end of last month, calling on him to intervene to stop councils hitting a “cliff edge” and being forced to reduce building inspection services.
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