NFRC backs Lords’ report on Building Safety Regulator delays

Skills shortages and inconsistent expectations around competency across the industry remain major barriers to progress, the trade body stresses

NFRC welcomes the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee’s report on the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), which highlights the urgent need to tackle delays in approvals that are holding back remediation work and new housing delivery.  

NFRC supports the Committee’s call for better resourcing and more streamlined processes to ensure that vital safety work, particularly the remediation of dangerous cladding, can progress.

At the same time, NFRC recognises the recent progress within the BSR, where new leadership has begun providing clearer gateway guidance to industry and consolidating team workstreams, with early signs that gateway lead times are improving. 

James Talman, Group CEO of NFRC, said, “This report reflects what our members have been telling us for some time: while stronger building safety regulation is essential, the current level of delay is putting businesses at risk. Delays to remediation and freezes on new housing both carry serious consequences.” 

He added, “We strongly support the ambition for a robust, well-resourced regulator that works with industry to raise standards. But the system must also be workable in practice. Clear guidance, proper staffing, and better engagement with competent trade bodies, for example, through the sharing of defect incidence data, are critical if we are to deliver the homes England urgently needs safely. 

“Our competent persons scheme, NFRC Competent Persons Scheme (CPS), has also been impacted by delays to enhanced scheme requirements, which fall under the BSR.” 

NFRC has consistently highlighted to the Government and the BSR that skills shortages and inconsistent expectations around competency across the industry remain major barriers to progress, alongside the need for precise enforcement requirements and a structured adoption plan.