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Grenfell Inquiry calls for uber construction regulator
The final report from the Grenfell Inquiry was published in September. The report makes 58 recommendations and it is going to take time for those to be considered and implemented.
One of those recommendations was for a complete shake-up of construction with a new uber regulator overseeing all aspects of the industry.
Sir Martin Moore-Bick: “more can and should be done to bring about a fundamental change in the attitudes and practices of the construction industry”
Suzannah Nichol OBE, Build UK Chief Executive commented “The final report from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is a wake‐up call: the pace of change must be accelerated and everyone needs to take responsibility for fulfilling their duties to provide safe homes and buildings, for everyone, every time. “
The new regulator would oversee a broad sweep of the industry from construction product development to installation on high-rise buildings. This would see commercial organisations removed from the certification of products.
The report states that the new construction regulator must have sufficient resources to take on the functions that are currently discharged by a variety of industry bodies
Role of proposed construction regulator
- regulation of construction products;
- development of suitable methods for testing the reaction to fire of materials and
products intended for use in construction; - testing and certification of such products;
- issue of certificates of compliance of construction products with the requirements
of legislation, statutory guidance and industry standards; - regulation and oversight of building control;
- licensing of contractors to work on higher-risk buildings;
- monitoring the operation of the Building Regulations and the statutory guidance and
advising the Secretary of State on the need for change; - carrying out research on matters affecting fire safety in the built environment;
- collecting information, both in this country and abroad, on matters affecting fire safety;
- exchanging information with the fire and rescue services on matters affecting fire safety;
- accrediting fire risk assessors;
- maintaining a publicly available library of test data and publications.
The report said that over the course of time the arrangements under which the construction industry was regulated had become too complex and fragmented.
Sir Martin said: “The simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable and that those who lived in the tower were badly failed over a number of years and in a number of different ways by those who were responsible for ensuring the safety of the building and its occupants.”
The Metropolitan Police said it would hand over the evidence of its criminal investigation to Crown Prosecution Services in 2026. This means it would be another two years before the CPS decides whether any potential criminal charges relating to the fire are brought.