Various BSR and CLC guidance published - Staged Applications and key steps between Gateway 2 to Gateway 3 (Building Regulations - England)
Thursday, 18th December, saw another flurry of building safety related updates being published, two sets from the BSR and one tranche of joint BSR-CLC guidance.
Joint CLC-BSR guidance on Staged Applications and key steps between Gateway 2 to Gateway 3
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC), in collaboration with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), published two new industry guidance notes – on Staged Applications and key steps between Gateway 2 to Gateway 3 for Building Control for new Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) in England. APS had the opportunity to feed into the Gateway guidance and is delighted to see many of its comments taken on board.
The guidance published builds on the CLC guidance suite published in July to support those submitting and assessing Building Control Approval applications and managing the process during the construction phase to handover and the submission of a Completion Certificate application.
The BSR is now accepting staged applications (see below for more information) for all new HRBs at Gateway 2 for single tower new HRBs, based on separating groundwork and foundations from the subsequent construction of the building. Together, the BSR and the CLC are reviewing how the application process can adapt to the conditions the construction industry is facing, while following the law and ensuring the delivery of high quality, safe buildings for those who live and work in them.
Progressive assurance of the works and assembling the information to support the golden thread are key to a successful handover and application for a Completion Certificate. This in turn facilitates the most expeditious Building Control Approval and the earliest occupation of buildings.
Specific guidance updates include:
• Updated - Guidance Note 01 – The Building Safety Regime for a new Higher Risk Building: Update and addition to the process map;
• New - Guidance Note 08 – Staged Applications: Approach and baseline information for a Building Control Approval application for a stage of HRB work; and
• New – Guidance Note 09 – Gateway 2 to Gateway 3: Key steps for dutyholders and the BSR between Building Control Approval (Gateway 2) and Completion Certificate (Gateway 3). The guidance also includes reference to an Annex D, which provides an example Schedule of Information for a Completion Certificate application. In effect the Schedule is a baseline list of information that should be considered, used and amended to reflect project specific requirements, when structuring information required for a building control application before uploading to the BSR Portal.
The complete guidance suite and further information can be found on the CLC website.
BSR – Building control staged applications updated guidance
In addition to the joint BSR-CLC guidance, the BSR published updated guidance on the staged application process for HRB building control approval, which includes expanding eligibility to single tower projects alongside complex multiple tower developments.
The GOV.UK guidance update details how the definition of "commencement" varies between complex and non-complex buildings. It provides that stage one for single towers must complete foundations and structure of ground floor level.
The GOV.UK guidance update details how the definition of "commencement" varies between complex and non-complex buildings. It provides that stage one for single towers must complete foundations and structure of ground floor level.
While developers of multiple tower projects should still contact BSR for advice beforehand, strict rules prohibit starting any work until the relevant stage is approved.
The updates also cover preparing information for applications for staged construction.
The guidance can be found here:
• updated guidance on staged applications
• updated guidance on preparing information
BSR – guidance on Criteria for validating, approving or rejecting building control applications
The BSR also published information, aimed at applicants, which clarifies the criteria BSR uses to validate, approve or reject building control applications for HRBs. The update seeks to improve industry’s engagement with the building control approval process. It emphasises the strict legal requirements for the submission of detailed documentation.
The page details:
- the Approval with Requirements (AwR) process, allowing BSR to approve designs that demonstrate "substantive compliance" whilst non-critical details can be submitted later.
- the various grounds for rejections.
- BSR’s approach to ‘attached structures’ during the design and construction phase.