BSR backlog swells as new build approvals run to 36 weeks

Latest data exhibits a rising backlog of initiatives snared up within the prolonged course of, with purposes flooding in quicker than BSR groups can course of them.

For the primary time, officers have admitted it now takes a median of 36 weeks to safe gateway approval on new construct initiatives – 3 times longer than the unique 12-week goal and longer than the 19 weeks common on the finish of 2024.

The figures, protecting exercise from late 2023 to early 2025, present 2,108 complete purposes submitted, however simply 338 have acquired approval.

Of the 193 new construct high-risk constructing purposes lodged for the reason that system launched, simply 15 (8%) have efficiently navigated the approval gateway.

Main cladding remediation schemes for current buildings haven’t fared significantly better, with solely 28 (12%) of 236 jobs cleared.

Initiatives falling into the “different fireplace security works” class – together with new flooring or extra minor fireplace security alterations – noticed a barely higher 18% success price, with 295 jobs authorized from 1,679 submitted.

Meaning billions of kilos price of high-rise new builds and recladding schemes are successfully caught in limbo.

BSR’s energetic caseload has now soared to 1,019 schemes on the finish of March 2025 – up a 3rd from the top of final yr as new submissions maintain piling in.

In a press release accompanying the figures, the HSE mentioned: “We acknowledge there are delays in processing purposes and we proceed to introduce enhancements.

“Latest recruitment exercise is having a constructive influence on productiveness with the variety of selections doubling (month on month) total since March.

“Considerably, the variety of selections made at the moment are exceeding new purposes acquired.

“Devoted groups at the moment are in place to course of new-build and remediation purposes, and we’re introducing a brand new Innovation Unit which can give attention to quick monitoring new-build purposes via the system.”

Two weeks in the past the federal government stepped in to take direct management of the Constructing Security Regulator in a shake-up geared toward unblocking high-rise housing delays and restoring trade confidence.

Accountability for the regulator is being stripped from the Well being and Security Government and handed to a brand new arm’s size company beneath the housing ministry.

This will probably be run by two former London Fireplace Brigade commissioners.

New Innovation and Remediation Enforcement Models are being set as much as fast-track the method for round 30,000 new houses in high-rise buildings BSR has acquired constructing management purposes for.

Greater than 100 new employees will even be recruited to bolster the regulator’s capability, with in-house engineers and constructing inspectors serving to to clear the backlog of stalled purposes.

One developer instructed the Enquirer: “We clearly welcome the deliberate modifications to hurry up the method. However there’s a nagging feeling the transition could introduce but extra delay within the brief time period, which the trade can ailing afford.”