Parliamentary activity

Answering body: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

My Honourable Friend the Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy (Samantha Dixon MBE MP) has today made the following statement:

The Grenfell Tower tragedy exposed deep-rooted weaknesses in the systems designed to keep people safe. The preventable loss of 72 lives remains a profound failure of oversight and accountability which should never have occurred. The bereaved, survivors and local community continue to remind us of the human cost of those failures and of the importance of lasting reform.

This government accepted the Inquiry’s findings and is today publishing the May 2026 Grenfell Tower Inquiry Progress Report, setting out the action taken and the further work underway to deliver a more robust, coherent and accountable building safety system. Since February 2026, we have completed a further nine recommendations, bringing the total of closed recommendations to 21 since February 2025. We remain on track to deliver all recommendations by the end of 2029.

Alongside the May progress update, we are publishing;

A call for evidence on the building professions, trades and occupations

The College of Fire and Rescue Consultation

The Building Control Independent Panel report and government response

The Public Engagement Policy

An Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) research paper

The publications alongside this progress report illustrate the continued progress being made towards implementation of the Inquiry’s recommendations and wider reforms of social housing and the construction sector. While not all these documents in themselves close a recommendation, they represent important steps in the work needed to do so, and form the foundations to support sustained, system-wide change. They seek to address fragmentation and ensure that those responsible for building and fire safety have the support they need to keep the public safe in their homes.

The government will also bring forward a Remediation Bill, which will drive forward the remediation of unsafe cladding by giving regulators the powers they need to compel the worst blockers to take action, and make those responsible pay towards the cost of fixing the problem they caused.

Call for Evidence on the Building Professions, Trades and Occupations

Following on from publication of the Single Construction Regulator prospectus in December 2025, we have today launched a call for evidence on the built environment professions, trades and occupations. This goes beyond the specific recommendations in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry for fire engineers, fire risk assessors, principal contractors and architects to tackle the underlying findings of the Inquiry. This concluded that the skills, knowledge and experience of all those engaged in the construction industry are critical to making sure our buildings and environments are safe, high quality and high performing.

This call for evidence seeks information about current barriers, opportunities and interdependencies shaping how people work and behave during all stages of the building process. The outcomes of this exercise will help to set the shape and scope of the new overarching strategy for the professions, trades and occupations which will be published in 2027. This will set out a long-term plan for regulatory and non-regulatory reform across government and the sector, in addition to the delivery of the specific recommendations around professions.

The call for evidence will run for 12 weeks until 12 August 2026.

Building Control Independent Panel Report and Government Response

The government has today published the final report of the Building Control Independent Panel, alongside our response. The Panel was established, under the chairship of Dame Judith Hackitt, following a recommendation of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 to consider whether building control functions should be performed by those who have a commercial interest in the process; and whether all building control functions should be performed by a national authority.

We welcome the Panel’s clear assessment of longstanding challenges in the system, despite the professionalism and commitment of many of those working within it. The report sets out principles for reform, alongside recommendations for action in the near term and options for longer-term reform.

The government agrees with the Panel’s assessment and accepts the direction of travel it has set out. Our response makes clear that building control must be properly supported as part of a well-functioning wider building safety system, building on reforms already delivered since the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

We will now take forward detailed work on the Panel’s recommendations at pace, including how reform can be taken forward in a way that strengthens public safety, supports the profession and maintains confidence across the sector. We will set out further detail as this work develops.

College of Fire and Rescue Consultation

We are today publishing a public consultation on the establishment of a new College of Fire and Rescue. This consultation seeks views on the role, design and delivery of a new centre of excellence to support the capability, professionalism and resilience of the fire and rescue sector.

The consultation marks an important step in delivering the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The Inquiry identified serious and systemic weaknesses across the fire and rescue sector, including inconsistent professional standards, variation in training and leadership, and fragmented responsibilities. As the cornerstone of our reform programme, the college will address these challenges and build on the recommendations from the phase 1 report by collecting and curating operational learning and providing a trusted national voice on risk and fire behaviour. The college will therefore play a critical role in raising professional standards and improving outcomes for the fire and rescue workforce.

The consultation sets out proposals for the college’s strategic purpose and the functions it could fulfil, including, but not limited to, leadership and command, recruitment and training, and culture and integrity. It also seeks views on how the college could operate in practice.

This consultation will run for eight weeks, closing on the 15th July, and we strongly encourage responses from the public, the fire and rescue sector, other blue light services and any other respondents with an interest in this work. The consultation will be available on gov.uk and will be laid in both Houses.

Public Engagement Policy

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry details significant widespread failings that led to the Grenfell Tower Tragedy. Of these failings, and the many individuals and organisations named, seven firms were most significantly criticised for their actions. Sir Michael Moore-Bick found that some of these organisations acted with “systematic dishonesty” and “engaged in deliberate, sustained strategies to mislead the market.” The Inquiry found that materials were used on Grenfell Tower that firms knew were not fit for purpose, and that safety was deprioritised behind ease and economic gain.

In response to these findings, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has implemented a policy to advise ministers and senior officials not to share a public platform with any of these firms. The principles of this approach have since been shared across government.

Answering body: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

My Honourable Friend the Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy (Samantha Dixon MBE MP) has today made the following statement:

An effective and efficient building control system underpins the fundamental safety of homes and communities across the country, built on the expertise of skilled professionals. Today I announce further steps the Department is taking to make sure this system is working effectively and supporting our ambitious remediation and housebuilding targets.

This will restore confidence in the work done to ensure safety in the building sector and boost the housing supply and the improved operation of the Building Safety Regulator’s Gateway regime.

Today, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is launching a consultation on improving proportionality and safety outcomes in the higher-risk building (HRB) control regime. This consultation is seeking views on how building work in existing higher-risk buildings is categorised, to make sure the application requirements reflect the scale and complexity of the work. We are committed to making sure the higher-risk regime is applied in a proportionate way without compromising on safety. It must strike the right balance between robust oversight of safety critical works and enabling safer building works to proceed efficiently and without undue delays.

Alongside this, MHCLG is announcing a £70m Building Professional Workforce Programme to address shortages of capacity and capability in two safety-critical areas of the built environment: £55m for building control and £15m for the fire engineering profession. These professions play a key role in making sure building work is delivered in accordance with the Building Regulations and that engineering solutions protect people and mitigate harm to the built environment in the event of fire.

Our funding will enable the recruitment and training of up to 700 new building inspectors to increase overall capacity, the training of more building inspectors to Class 3 to enable them to work on HRBs, and the expansion of masters level education for fire engineers. This takes forward the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, in line with our recently published next steps on fire engineering profession reform.

These announcements form part of a wider programme to keep people safe in the buildings where they live, work, and visit. As part of this, a consultation was launched today for fire risk assessors. A separate statement has been laid providing further detail on these proposals.

Our priority remains, as it must, in ensuring the collective safety of residents in buildings across the country, while speeding up progress on crucial building work, such as cladding remediation and delivering the new homes this country urgently needs.

The consultation on proposed changes to HRB categorisation can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proportionality-in-building-control-categorisation-of-higher-risk-building-work

We will announce further details on availability of the Building Profession Workforce Programme funding in due course.

Answering body: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

My Honourable Friend the Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy (Samantha Dixon MBE MP) has today made the following statement:

Today, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government launched a public consultation on proposals to establish a fire risk assessor (FRA) profession with consistently high levels of competency, where trust is rebuilt, and where a strong, diverse pipeline of talent ensures improved standards of fire safety.

Context

Fire risk assessments are a fundamental part of the fire safety regime established under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This legislation requires Responsible Persons (RPs) to make a suitable and sufficient assessment to help make sure hazards are identified and the right fire precautions are delivered to keep people safe in the buildings where they live, work, and visit.

RPs can currently undertake this assessment themselves, or appoint someone, commonly known as an FRA, to assist them. Competent and professional FRAs therefore play a critical role in keeping people safe.

Despite this vital life-safety role, FRAs are not currently recognised as a regulated profession. There is no single professional body, no agreed definition of the role, no defined career pathway, and no specified training or qualifications.

While many FRAs are highly competent, we want to see an FRA profession with consistently high and demonstrable standards of competency across the board. Further, we want these proposals to rebuild trust in the FRA profession so that those who rely on their expertise, whether occupying, buying or selling, can feel confident in the fire safety of their homes or other premises.

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry (‘the Inquiry’) Phase 2 report identified serious shortcomings in the fire risk assessments produced by the FRA for Grenfell Tower, including failures to identify critical fire safety hazards and to verify that previously identified risks had been addressed. In response to Recommendation 26 in the Inquiry’s Phase 2 report, government committed to introduce mandatory certification for FRAs.

Consultation

The consultation we have launched today is an important step in delivering Recommendation 26 of the Inquiry’s Phase 2 report and fulfilling our commitment to introduce mandatory certification for FRAs.

We have engaged stakeholders across government, the devolved governments, and industry to secure their initial contributions to our plans and help shape the future of a profession that can consistently deliver its vital fire safety role.

The consultation can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fire-risk-assessors-profession and will remain open for 12 weeks until 18 June 2026. We encourage as many responses as possible, to make sure future measures strengthen confidence in the FRA regime and so that those undertaking this critical work are appropriately competent, supported, and accountable. Following the consultation, government will carefully consider the responses received and set out next steps in due course.

This work forms part of a wider programme to implement Inquiry recommendations and improve fire and building safety, including proposals for the establishment of the Single Construction Regulator, recent publications on the fire engineering profession and ongoing work to develop a new strategy for the built environment professions.

Further, a consultation was launched today on improving proportionality and safety outcomes in the higher-risk building (HRB) control regime which can be found here: https://consult.communities.gov.uk/higher-risk-buildings/redefining-category-a-building-work-consultation

This is launched alongside the announcement of a £70m Building Professional Workforce Programme to address shortages of capacity and capability in two safety-critical professions: building control and fire engineering. The funding for fire engineering will contribute to our response to the Inquiry recommendations on increasing education for fire engineers.

A separate statement has been laid providing further detail on these announcements.

Answering body: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

My Honourable Friend the Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy (Samantha Dixon MBE MP) has today made the following statement:

The Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 was a national tragedy that highlighted profound failures across systems, safeguards and oversight and led to the avoidable deaths of 72 innocent people.

Eight years on, the bereaved, survivors, and immediate community continue to campaign for justice, truth and accountability. We are committed to delivering the substantial reforms needed to make sure that such a tragedy never happens again.

In February, the Government accepted all the Inquiry’s findings and is taking action on all 58 Phase 2 recommendations to build a more robust and trusted regulatory system and deliver safe, quality homes for everyone.

Today, my department has published our third Progress Report. Alongside this update, we have published a prospectus and consultation on creating a Single Construction Regulator; the Fire Engineers Authoritative Statement and Next Steps Document; and results of the Building Safety Regulator’s initial review of the definition of higher-risk buildings and plans for an ongoing review.

These are significant steps to deliver the reforms we committed to in the Government’s response to the Grenfell Inquiry to tackle fragmentation and complexity in the regulatory system and to ensure those responsible for building and fire safety are competent.

Grenfell Tower Inquiry Government Progress Report

This progress clearly demonstrates the Government’s determination to act decisively to deliver meaningful reform of the built environment. Since the progress report in September, we have completed a further five recommendations related to the construction industry, fire and rescue services and protecting vulnerable people.

Single Construction Regulator Prospectus: Consultation Document

The first recommendation from the Inquiry’s Phase 2 report was for Government to introduce a single construction regulator to tackle complexity and fragmentation in how the industry is regulated. In our response to the Inquiry, we committed to consulting on our next steps this year. Today we have published the Single Construction Regulator Prospectus: Consultation Document. This is a significant milestone in delivering this recommendation.

The prospectus lays out Government’s vision for a better regulatory system. We will tackle fragmentation by integrating the regulation of buildings, construction products, and professionals so they work as an effective system. At the heart of the system will be a single construction regulator who will consolidate the delivery of regulatory functions. The prospectus also sets out next steps for this Government’s wider programme of regulatory reform, including reforms to the Construction Products regime, to be set out in a White Paper by spring 2026, and a new overarching strategy for the built environment professions that goes beyond the areas highlighted by the Inquiry, to be published in spring 2027. The purpose of this reform is a more effective regulatory system, which means better outcomes for residents and building users; clarity and certainty for industry and investors; and a fairer system, that benefits those who prioritise safety and quality and sets clear accountabilities for all actors with a stake in the built environment.

Progress towards the Single Construction Regulator has begun through significant reforms to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). In June, MHCLG announced a new phase for the BSR, including strengthened leadership and steps to address operational challenges. Work is now underway to establish the BSR as a new arm’s length body sponsored by MHCLG. The new body and dedicated leadership will provide a singular focus for this complex area of regulation, clearer lines of accountability to Ministers and Parliament, and greater operational flexibility while retaining its regulatory independence. Further reform, including integrating additional responsibilities, will be managed through a carefully phased approach, to ensure the current regulatory regime is not destabilised and to set the future regulator up for success.

The prospectus and consultation can be found on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/single-construction-regulator-prospectus. The consultation will run until 20 March 2026, inviting views on the proposals. We encourage as many responses as possible, to shape the future direction of the regulator and wider building system and make sure these reforms lead to real change for residents and building users.

Fire Engineers Authoritative Statement and Next Steps Document

The Fire Engineers Advisory Panel, established in April, brings together leading experts to strengthen the Government’s response to the Inquiry’s recommendations concerning fire engineers. In September, we committed to publishing an authoritative statement (recommendation 17) on the knowledge and skills to be expected of a competent fire engineer.

Today we have published the Fire Engineers Authoritative Statement, alongside a Next Steps document. This paper will set out MHCLG’s approach to recommendations 15, 16 and 18. Together, these publications provide clarity for the sector and signal the start of wider reforms to make sure the fire engineering profession is fit for the future.

Higher-Risk Buildings review publication

Today we have published the results of the Buildings Safety Regulator’s initial review of the definition of higher-risk buildings as well as the Regulator’s plans for an ongoing review.

The initial review found that the current definition appropriately reflects the available evidence on risks to individuals from the spread of fire and structural failure. Although no changes are to be made to regime scope at the present time, the ongoing review will ensure the data and evidence is regularly assessed to determine whether the categories of building subject to the higher-risk regime should be amended in any way. The presence of vulnerable individuals within designated building types will remain central to any assessment of risk.

Approved Document B Consultation

We will shortly launch a public consultation on proposed updates to Approved Document B, the statutory fire safety guidance within the Building Regulations. The consultation will seek views on targeted clarifications and technical changes, including new provisions for evacuation lifts in residential buildings above 18 metres, alongside measures to improve clarity and strengthen confidence in the guidance. These updates will be an important step in supporting inclusive design, safe evacuation strategies, and maintaining robust fire safety standards across the built environment.

Answering body: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

My Honourable Friend the Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy (Samantha Dixon MBE MP) has today made the following statement:

In June 2025, my department announced changes to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). Today I am laying before the House draft regulations which will move the functions of the Building Safety Regulator out of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and to an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

This change will position the BSR for the coming years. It will strengthen lines of accountability and give a dedicated focus to BSR operations, and is an important first step towards establishing a single construction regulator, the lead recommendation of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report.

I am grateful to HSE for the leadership and experience it has brought to the establishment and early operations of the BSR, and for its ongoing support as this change is made.

Answering body: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

My Hon Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Building Safety and Homelessnes (Rushanara Ali MP) has today made the following statement:

Today, I can update Parliament on fire safety and evacuation proposals; on the recognition of CE (‘Conformité Européenne’) marking for construction products; and on updates to the statutory guidance to the building regulations to remove references to outdated National Classes fire testing standards and make provision for sprinklers in new care homes.

Fire safety and evacuation

The Home Office will bring forward proposals in the Autumn to improve the fire safety and evacuation of disabled/vulnerable residents in high-rise and higher-risk residential buildings in England in response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 1 recommendations that relate to Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans, or PEEPs. These proposals will be called ‘Residential PEEPs’.

Through them, residents with disabilities and impairments will be entitled to a person-centred risk assessment to identify appropriate equipment and adjustments to aid their fire safety / evacuation, as well as a ‘Residential PEEPs statement’ that records what vulnerable residents should do in the event of a fire.

The Government has committed funding next year to begin this important work by supporting social housing providers to deliver Residential PEEPs for their renters. Future years’ funding will be confirmed at the upcoming Spending Review.

The Government has made progress on delivering recommendation 33.22[d] of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 1 report, on Evacuation Alert Systems (‘sounders’) for new builds, through amendment to statutory guidance to the building regulations in relation to high-rise residential building design (requiring sounders to be fitted in new buildings over 18 metres in height).

We will consider further the second part of the recommendation, relating to existing buildings, in light of further evidence or recommendations in the Phase 2 report. This will, like the work on fire safety improvements nationally, be part of the important task of reducing the likelihood and impact of future fires.

CE marking

Construction products are a pivotal part of the housing and infrastructure supply chain and make up 13% of the United Kingdom’s (UK) entire manufacturing base by turnover. Ensuring continuing supply of products is critical to delivering house building targets and wider infrastructure ambitions. These products must be safe. Evidence to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry revealed the scale of concern about construction products – products which are vital to all our buildings and infrastructure – and the system that oversees them remains inadequate.

A subset of construction products fall within scope of the current construction products regulations. These existing regulations set out rules for placing construction products on the market, providing a common technical language to assess the performance of products. Products within scope of these regulations must undergo an assessment of conformity with the relevant standard or technical assessment. Such products must also be affixed with a UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) or a CE (Conformité Européenne) mark. Current Government guidance sets out that recognition of CE marking will end in June 2025.

I can announce today that the Government will extend the period of recognition of CE marking for construction products. The CE mark will continue to be available when placing construction products on the market across the UK.

We have listened to the findings from the Independent Review of the Construction Products Testing Regime. This was clear that there is currently insufficient testing and certification capacity in the UK alone to provide the volume of conformity assessment that would be required were CE recognition to end. We are also clear that ending recognition of CE marking without reforming the domestic regime would create trade barriers and negatively affect the supply of products that meet recognised standards.

I am also determined to address the inadequacies across the wider construction products regime. Residents and communities need to be confident that their homes will be safe and well-built now and in the future. To ensure this, the Government will want to take into account any recommendations from the forthcoming Grenfell Inquiry report to inform proposals for reform. Therefore, I am making this extension, and the longer-term future of CE/UKCA marking, conditional on this Government committing to system wide reform of the construction products regulatory regime.

The Government recognises the role of UK Conformity Assessment Bodies in ensuring compliance of goods on the market. As part of the reforms the Government will work with UK Conformity Assessment Bodies, the UK Accreditation Service, and the wider industry to strengthen the conformity assessment market.

Lastly, I recognise the need for industry to have sufficient certainty to support supply chains. I can confirm that any subsequent changes to the recognition of CE marking would be subject to a minimum 2-year transitional period.

National Classes and Sprinklers in care homes

I am also announcing, today, publication of two updates to the statutory guidance that accompanies Building Regulations. First, we are introducing a provision for sprinklers to be installed in new care homes; and second, we are completing the withdrawal of the outdated National Classes fire testing standards, ending a long period of dual specification in favour of the more robust European standard. This implements the recommendation, made in the Hackitt Report, for a clearer, transparent and effective testing regime. Alongside guidance for second staircases in tall residential buildings that are more than 18m in height, which was published on 29 March 2024, these measures conclude the new policy responses to the Sprinklers in care homes, removal of national classes, and staircases in residential buildings consultation, which ran from 23 December 2022 to 17 March 2023.

Withdrawing the National Classes fire testing standards from ‘Approved Document B’ will end the dual classification system that has operated since the early 2000s in favour of the more rigorous, internationally recognised European standard (BS EN 13501). The current testing standard tests for both reaction to fire and fire resistance. I am aware that there are a small number of manufacturers who have only ever tested to National Class standards who will need time to re-test their products. We are providing industry with a transition period of five years for fire resistance and 6 months for reaction to fire. This is a generous yet critical approach and has been put in place to facilitate a smooth transition to the European standard that is not disruptive to supply chains.

A compassionate society protects its most vulnerable. Today, I am also publishing an update to ‘Approved Document B’ that makes provision for sprinklers in all new care homes. Sprinklers enhance fire protection where residents may be reliant on others for help and assistance, especially if a building evacuation is needed. Many care home providers already include sprinklers in new designs. For those that do not yet provide for sprinklers, again, I recognise that businesses and investors seek certainty. So, care homeowners and developers will benefit from a six-month transition period until the guidance comes into effect and will then have a further six months to enable work on current development projects that are underway, or about to start, to continue.