On the 27th of January 2026, The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) officially became a standalone public body, marking a decisive step in the government’s long-term efforts to reform the construction sector following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Creating a Standalone Regulator

The BSR was originally established within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in 2021 to quickly build operational capability in response to Grenfell. It has now been separated from the HSE and operates as an executive non-departmental public body under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

This change gives the regulator a sharper focus, clearer governance, and dedicated oversight. It continues to carry out all its duties under the Building Safety Act 2022, with operations running without interruption. The regulator’s work is designed to put residents at the heart of building safety, promoting culture change across the built environment.

Lord Roe, Chair of the BSR, commented:
"Today is a decisive and important step in strengthening building safety and a milestone that marks our evolution into a standalone regulator…today is about looking forward to a single construction regulator that brings coherence to a once-fragmented system."

Purpose and Impact

Making the BSR a standalone entity allows the regulator to focus on its core responsibilities, including:

• Making decisions more efficiently
• Streamlining the delivery of regulations
• Ensuring safer buildings and better protection for residents

Since its creation, the Building Safety Regulator has implemented a new, more stringent regulatory regime for higher-risk buildings, while overseeing safety and standards across all buildings and promoting competence throughout the built environment industry.

Moving Toward a Single Construction Regulator

The standalone BSR is also a step toward the creation of a single construction regulator, as recommended by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report. A unified regulator would oversee:

• Building safety: protecting residents and ensuring standards are met.
• Construction product standards: ensuring materials and products are safe and reliable.
• Professional competence: maintaining skills and qualifications across the sector.

This consolidation aims to simplify oversight, improve compliance, and create a safer built environment for all.

Looking Ahead

By separating the BSR from the HSE and placing it directly under government oversight, authorities aim to boost accountabilit and put residents at the heart of building safety. These changes lay the foundation for a single construction regulator and reflect a strong commitment to safer buildings and greater public confidence in construction standards, signalling a major shift in the UK’s construction landscape.