Rayner asks Building Safety Regulator for ‘fundamental review’ of Approved Documents

The housing secretary has asked the Building Safety Regulator to undertake a “fundamental review” of guidance on building regulations.

In her opening speech during the House of Commons debate on the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report, Angela Rayner announced the investigation into the Approved Documents.

The Approved Documents provide detailed guidance for built environment professionals on how to meet the requirements of building regulations, but there have been criticisms that it is too complicated and difficult to use. 

Both the 2018 Hackitt review and the 2024 Grenfell Inquiry report highlighted these problems, with the former calling the Approved Documents “complex, ambiguous and not user-friendly”.

>> Also read: One in four social housing blocks with fire safety defects lack remediation plans, says regulator

>> Government commits to fixing cladding on high-rises by end of 2029

>> ‘We will deliver a generational shift’… Why the Grenfell Inquiry report means another building safety shake-up

The review, which will be led by the regulator with the support of external experts, will explore how to make the guidance easier to understand and use, more regularly updated to keep up with new developments and more accessible for smaller firms. 

The Building Safety Regulator will establish a review panel and appoint a chair to lead its activities in early 2025.