Building Regulator Requirements for Higher-Risk Buildings

enevo supports clients, designers, contractors and dutyholders with the technical and compliance work needed to navigate BSR requirements. From confirming whether the HRB regime applies and planning for Gateway requirements, through design coordination, building control approval applications, construction and change control, to Gateway 3 and handover, we help teams keep information clear, consistent and traceable.

Our role is to provide project-side support. The BSR remains the statutory regulator and responsible authority for the building control approval process.

What is the Building Safety Regulator?

The Building Safety Regulator regulates higher-risk buildings and assesses building control applications for HRBs in England. It also oversees other building control bodies and has responsibilities for building safety standards and competence across the built environment. Building Safety Regulator: About us – GOV.UK

For projects, this means the design, construction information, dutyholder arrangements and evidence submitted for approval need to demonstrate how the relevant building regulations requirements will be met.

When does BSR act as the Building Control Authority?

For an HRB in England, BSR is the Building Control Authority for the relevant building work.

Current GOV.UK guidance defines an HRB for these purposes as a building that is at least 7 storeys or 18 metres high and has at least 2 residential units, or is a hospital or care home meeting the height or storey criteria. Different rules can apply to particular types of existing-building work and exemptions, so the scope of the proposed work should be checked before an application route is selected. Building control approval for higher-risk buildings – GOV.UK

What does BSR mean for your project?

Early design and Gateway 1

The project team needs to understand whether higher-risk building requirements apply and establish the relevant client, designer and contractor responsibilities early.

enevo can help teams establish the compliance approach, coordinate information and identify requirements that need to be addressed as the design develops.

Gateway 2 and building control approval

Before relevant building work starts, BSR building control approval is required for in-scope HRB work. Applications need appropriate drawings, plans, project information and evidence demonstrating compliance with building regulations. Building control approval for higher-risk buildings – GOV.UK

enevo can support the preparation, coordination and review of the information needed for the application, including compliance documentation and supporting technical evidence.

Construction and change control

Approval is not the end of the process. Project teams need to manage changes and maintain accurate building information as work progresses.

For higher-risk building work, dutyholders also have defined responsibilities around competence, mandatory occurrence reporting and maintaining the required building information, often referred to as the golden thread. Design and building work: meeting building requirements – GOV.UK

Gateway 3 and completion

Before occupation, the project needs to complete the relevant completion and approval process. The information required at this stage needs to reflect the building as constructed and provide the evidence required by the regulatory process.

enevo can support the coordination of completion information, Regulation 38 documentation and the wider project record.

What information does BSR require?

The exact requirements depend on the project, but current BSR guidance includes information such as:

• ✓drawings and plans
• ✓details of the proposed work
• ✓building height, storeys and intended use
• ✓client, principal designer and principal contractor information
• ✓building regulations compliance information
• ✓site and drainage information
• ✓competence and project-management information
• ✓change control and construction information where required.

BSR’s current application guidance sets out the information and documents required for building control approval applications. Preparing information for a building control approval application – GOV.UK

How enevo can support your project

Building Safety and compliance strategy

We help project teams establish the relevant HRB requirements, clarify responsibilities and structure the compliance approach around the project.

Gateway and application support

We support teams preparing for Gateway requirements and BSR building control approval, including coordination and review of application information.

Compliance evidence and documentation

We help organise technical evidence, compliance information, change records and supporting documentation so that information is clear and traceable.

Existing higher-risk building work

Works to existing HRBs can involve different approval routes depending on the proposed work. enevo can help building owners, accountable persons, contractors, architects and dutyholders review the scope, understand the likely route and prepare the required information.

For more specific support with existing HRB works, see our existing HRB works and Category B support service.

Who is BSR support for?

Our HRB support can be relevant to:

• ✓clients and developers
• ✓building owners and accountable persons
• ✓architects and design teams
• ✓principal designers
• ✓principal contractors
• ✓contractors
• ✓project managers and other dutyholders.

The support required will depend on the building, project stage, scope of work and responsibilities of the appointed team.

Building Safety Regulator FAQs

What does the Building Safety Regulator do?

BSR regulates higher-risk buildings, assesses building control applications for HRBs in England and oversees other building control bodies. Building Safety Regulator: About us – GOV.UK

Does enevo approve a BSR application?

No. BSR remains the Building Control Authority and makes the relevant regulatory decisions. enevo provides project-side technical, compliance and application support.

When is BSR building control approval needed?

Current GOV.UK guidance requires approval before relevant work starts on a new HRB and on specified works to existing HRBs, subject to exemptions and other defined routes. Building control approval for higher-risk buildings – GOV.UK

Can enevo help with an existing HRB?

Yes. Our existing HRB service covers scope and route review, Building Safety and compliance information, dutyholder coordination and support with BSR applications where required.