How the Gataway system works

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is establishing the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to enhance the safety of high-rise residential buildings (HRBs) in England. According to the Building Safety Act (BSA) of 2022, HRBs classified as 'higher-risk' are those that are at least 18 meters tall or seven storeys high, and contain at least two residential units. This classification also includes hospitals and care homes meeting these height criteria.

There are three gateways

„ Gataway 1 - Land use planning matters related to fire safety:

On the first gateway the BSR reviews planning applications to ensure that building designs incorporate fire safety measures before granting planning permission.

„ Gataway 2 - Building control approval for higher-risk buildings:

The second gateway ss a checkpoint where construction cannot start until the BSR confirms that the design meets building regulations. This means plans must clearly show how they will comply with these regulations without relying on unrealistic management expectations

„ Gataway 3 - Completion certificates:

The third gateway is the final checkpoint, occurring at the end of construction before the building can be occupied. This ensures that the safety of future occupants is prioritized. It is a key part of the new regulatory framework, ensuring the BSR has all the necessary information to issue a completion certificate. Planning for this stage begins at the start of the building control process to ensure all required information is gathered from the beginning.

More details about the Gataway system can be found on the Government website, which includes the PDf below.