Health and Safety Executive will no longer serve as the Building Safety Regulator.

June 30, 2023

This comes shortly after Peter Baker retires as the head of the Building Safety Regulator.

This amendment proposes a new clause to a legislation regarding the power to replace the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as the building safety regulator. Here’s a simplified explanation:

The amendment suggests that the Secretary of State (a government official) has the authority to create regulations to establish a new body called the “new regulator.” This new regulator would take over the responsibilities of the Health and Safety Executive in overseeing building safety under the Building Safety Act 2022.

The regulations can specify whether the new regulator will be a completely new organisation created by the regulations or an existing body mentioned in the regulations.

The Secretary of State can also make additional regulations related to this change, including giving new functions to the new regulator or modifying its existing functions, establishing or changing the structure of the new regulator, determining its funding arrangements, and granting the Secretary of State the power to give instructions to the new regulator.

These regulations may also amend or remove any provisions made by existing laws related to building safety.

However, there is a time limit on making these regulations. They must be created within 24 months from the day the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is presented to Parliament. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry refers to the official investigation into the fire incident at Grenfell Tower on June 14, 2017. The Secretary of State can specify a later time in the regulations made before the end of that 24-month period.

The terms “constitutional arrangements” and “funding arrangements” mentioned in the amendment refer to matters related to the new regulator’s name, status, structure, staff, employment powers, remuneration, governing procedures, reports, accounts, and funding provided by a Minister of the Crown (a government minister).

Overall, this amendment empowers the Secretary of State to establish a new body as the building safety regulator, make regulations related to its functions and structure, and set a timeline for these changes based on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.