How the Safety Case Report links with Gateway 2

Gateway 2 is a crucial stage in the building control approval process. Positioned between planning and construction, it’s the final checkpoint before any construction work begins. To clear this gateway, a comprehensive application must be submitted to the regulator which includes written declarations confirming the competency of both the principal contractor and the principal designer.

In the gateway 2 application, you’ll also need to provide detailed plans of the proposed works, outlining exactly how the building’s safety will be maintained throughout the construction process. Additionally, your submission must describe the overall design and build approach and explain how the “golden thread” of building information will be captured and maintained. Finally, you’ll need to include the planning statement from Gateway 1 and a thorough fire and emergency file.

Building control approval must be obtained before starting:

• construction of a new HRB

• building work to an existing building that either makes it a higher-risk building, or stops it being a higher-risk building

• building work to an existing higher-risk building, unless it consists only of exempt work, competent person scheme works or emergency repairs

There has been significant industry concern regarding the lengthy approval times for Gateway 2 applications. In response, the BSR has communicated its commitment to reducing these timelines through process enhancements and an expanded multi-disciplinary team. However, the regulator also indicates it will possibly adopt a more firmer approach to the approval process. The BSRs current supportive methodology, which involves requesting additional information for applications that don’t immediately meet requirements, inadvertently contributes to delays by consuming time and backlog. Consequently, the BSR has issued a clear call for the industry to improve the completeness and quality of its submissions.

The building control approval process is a two-step process, the first being the validation stage. This initial assessment simply verifies the completeness of the submitted information. A significant concern at this stage is the high rejection rate, with 44% of applications failing due to missing basic information. Frequently forgotten elements include a comprehensive compliance statement, improperly completed compliance declarations, and inadequate identification of construction control methods or standards.

While the safety case report is not a mandatory Gateway 2 submission document, its contents are critically relevant. The information within the report, particularly regarding identified risks and proposed mitigation strategies, directly underpins the design and safety plans submitted at Gateway 2. The Fire and Emergency File, a required component of the Gateway 2 submission, will also draw heavily from the building’s overarching safety considerations detailed in the safety case report.

It’s important to note that the Building Safety Regulator has frequently requested the specific submission of the safety case report during the Gateway 2 process. This should be a straightforward request, given that the safety case report has been a legally required document for existing Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) since October 1, 2023, the date by which they had to be registered.