Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many completion certificate applications for (a) higher-risk building work, (b) a stage of higher-risk work and (c) building work to an existing higher-risk building had been received by the Building Safety Regulator by 30 June 2024; and how many (i) of those completion certificate applications were determined within eight weeks of being received, (ii) extensions to the eight-week determination period have been agreed by the Regulator with the applicant and (iii) applications have been refused.

The new regulatory approach for building control on higher-risk buildings puts the onus on applicants to demonstrate how they will comply with the Building Regulations. This is a fundamental shift in the approach to building control and regulation, ensuring building safety is at the heart of applications.

Within the period up to 30 June, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) received 606 applications for amendments to existing higher-risk buildings (HRB), with 12 determined within the eight week period and 271 extensions agreed with the applicant. Within this category, there were almost as many refused applications, totalling 260.

BSR received 62 new applications, with four determined within the 12 week period, 22 extensions agreed and 10 refusals.

An application can initially be invalidated when an applicant has not provided the most basic administrative documents or followed the process that demonstrates they comply with the Building Regulations. This is not a formal refusal and it provides the applicant with the opportunity to reconsider what documentation and information is required for the application. Refusal is when an application fails to demonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations after being assessed.

Up to 30 June 2024, the BSR has received 14 applications for completion certificates for existing higher risk buildings, agreed extensions for six buildings and refused four applications. No applications have been received, extended, or refused for new higher risk buildings at either single stage or multi-stage.

The BSR has requested applications for Building Assessment Certificates for 236 higher-risk buildings. Up to 30 June 2024 the BSR had received the documentation for 230 applications and these are currently being assessed by the BSR and its regulatory partners. No Building Assessment Certificates had been issued or refused by 30 June 2024.

This Government is committed to both building safety and housebuilding. Our expectation is that once the new requirements, systems and processes bed in and all parties get used to the building safety regulations, that timelines for processing applications are met much faster. The BSR has been building capacity and developing their operational functions to improve building safety and ensure we never see a repeat of the Grenfell tragedy.