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Queen’s Speech: government confirms plans for new buildings safety regulator
The government has confirmed plans to implement Dame Judith Hackitt’s proposals and introduce a new buildings safety regulator.
In today’s Queen’s Speech, it was announced that ministers will introduce a raft of new measures covering all 53 of Dame Judith’s recommendations, following the Grenfell Tower fire.
Plans for a new building safety regulator have also been confirmed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) after first being announced in June. Dame Judith had said in her original report that there was “no need” for a new regulator.
Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, tweeted that the new regulator would have "powers to enforce criminal sanctions".
We are introducing the biggest reforms to the building safety regime in nearly 40 years, ensuring that the safety of residents is the top priority of every building owner and developer. #QueensSpeech pic.twitter.com/S5TyjT0Ufz
The government has already banned the use of combustible cladding on buildings more than 18m, which was controversially absent from Dame Judith’s recommendations last year.
The new legislation will include “a new safety framework for high-rise residential buildings”.
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In a document published following the Queen’s Speech, the government said it will go further than Hackitt’s proposals by “providing clear accountability for, and stronger duties on, those responsible for the safety of high-rise buildings throughout the building’s design, construction and occupation, with clear competence requirements to ensure high standards are upheld”.
Residents will also be given a “stronger voice in the system” so they can “understand how they can contribute to maintaining safety in their buildings”, the document said.
New sanctions to deter non-compliance with the system will also be introduced and a “stronger” framework to ensure construction products meet performance standards.
A new system will be developed to “oversee the whole built environment, with local enforcement agencies and national regulators working together to ensure that the safety of all buildings is improved”.
Among the other plans is a New Homes Ombudsman that developers of new houses will have to join. It is now more than a year ago since the government first announced plans to introduce an ombudsman.
A MHCLG spokesperson confirmed today the ombudsman would be separate from the regulator and be a ”watchdog that champions homebuyers, protects their interests and holds developers to account”.
Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, welcomed the plans on building safety. But she added: “Ensuring that every building is safe requires more than a new regulator.
“The government also has to make sure that funding is available to meet the cost of essential safety works where the regulatory system has failed. They also must provide clarity and coordination on how these works are to be carried out. This would enable housing associations to complete them as quickly as possible, and continue their other important work building new social housing.”
Other bills in the Queen’s Speech covered areas including Brexit, the NHS and domestic abuse and new measures around adult social care.
However, commentators have warned the bills are unlikely to pass as Boris Johnson does not have a majority in the House of Commons, while a general election looms.
