What's Happening?
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has stated that the collapse of Assent Building Compliance will have a limited impact on its target to eliminate the backlog of gateway two applications by January. Despite concerns raised by the collapse of Assent and
its subsidiaries, the BSR has assured that only a few projects are affected and the overall program remains on track. The BSR is working to confirm the exact number of affected projects and is securing resources to minimize delays. Assent's subsidiaries were involved in higher-risk building projects, and the BSR is reallocating these cases to ensure continuity.
Why It's Important?
The collapse of Assent Building Compliance highlights vulnerabilities in the building safety regulatory framework, particularly concerning the management of high-risk building projects. The BSR's ability to maintain its schedule despite this setback is crucial for ensuring the safety and compliance of residential buildings. The situation underscores the importance of robust regulatory oversight and the need for contingency plans to address disruptions in the building control sector. The reallocation of projects to local authorities and private firms may strain resources but is necessary to uphold safety standards.
What's Next?
Government officials are in discussions with local authorities and private building control firms to manage the transition of projects previously handled by Assent. The BSR is actively engaging with registered building inspectors to ensure the continuity of ongoing projects. The regulator aims to resolve the backlog by December, with a few cases extending into January. The situation may prompt a review of the regulatory framework to prevent similar occurrences in the future and ensure the resilience of building safety oversight.
