Things simply had to change post-Grenfell. The Hackitt Reports into the tragedy at Grenfell Tower in London highlighted a number of critical issues that needed to be addressed in terms of cladding ad fire safety on large buildings.
In response, the UK government introduced the Building Safety Act on 28th April 2022.
This comprehensive regulatory reform introduced primarily focuses on "higher risk buildings." These buildings, as defined in the Act, are those in England that are a minimum of 18 meters in height or have at least seven storeys, and consist of at least two residential units.
The Building Safety Act proposes an extensive rectification regime for buildings that are at least 11 meters high or have at least five storeys, containing a minimum of two dwellings. Certain changes within the Act have a broader reach, encompassing all residential developments, general breaches of the building regulations, as well as competency requirements for professionals operating in the construction industry.
It is important to note that the provisions of the Building Safety Act primarily apply to England. Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland retain the autonomy to establish their own specific requirements in this regard.
The resources on this page are intended to help you better navigate this complex and evolving area of law. However, if you need specific legal advice relating to the Building Safety Act you should contact one of the experienced lawyers listed on this page.
Episode 1: Building Safety Act 2022 – Limitation Periods
In our first episode, we discuss the revised limitation periods under the Building Safety Act 2022.
With effect from 28 June 2022, the Building Safety Act amends the limitation periods for certain types of claim and introduces new rights of action with limitation periods that are much longer than those typically seen under construction contracts.
Construction Professional Support Lawyer Gemma Irving talks with Nick Pinder, Kate Hencken and Jennifer Hurley in our construction disputes team to find out what this means and how clients can respond to these changes.
Episode 2: Building Safety Act 2022 - Widening the classification of liable parties
In our second episode, we discuss the widened classification of liable parties under the Building Safety Act 2022.
With effect from 28 June 2022 third parties, who perhaps had no direct involvement in the development or who thought their liabilities had long since ended, can now be held liable for the rectification of building safety defects. This is due to a host of new measures introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022, including Remediation Orders, Remediation Contribution Orders and Building Liability Orders.
Construction Professional Support Lawyer Gemma Irving talks with Kate Hencken in our construction disputes team, as well as Victoria Groves in our corporate team and Steve Manson in our real estate team to find out what this means and how clients can respond to these changes.