News
Monday 18th august 2025
New construction regulator results from Grenfell Tower Inquiry
The UK government will introduce a single regulator for the construction industry by 2028, after it accepted all 58 recommendations in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report. In accepting the recommendations, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said it seeks to “ensure those responsible for building safety are held to account”. This article explains the changes and the timeline for their implementation.
A Single Regulator
After the tragedy at Grenfell Tower in 2017, questions were raised about the current regulatory framework’s suitability in preventing future fires in high-rise buildings. As part of its review of current practices, the Grenfell Inquiry recommended consolidating construction regulation into a single, strengthened body to achieve stricter oversight, greater accountability, and improved industry standards.
Now that the government has confirmed it has accepted all recommendations, it has provided more detail on the new regulator’s powers. All the functions specified in the report will be incorporated, the government has announced, except for testing and certifying construction products and issuing compliance certificates.
Other Grenfell Inquiry recommendations
In response to the Inquiry’s final report, the government also promised to:
- Introduce tougher oversight of those responsible for testing and certifying, manufacturing and using construction products
- Strengthen and simplify enforceable legal rights for residents
- Empower social housing residents to challenge landlords
- Make it easier for tenants to report safety concerns and secure landlord action.
When will the reforms take effect?
As well as accepting the recommendations of the Grenfell Inquiry, the government set out a timetable for implementing the changes. Specifically, it pledged that progress reports will be published every quarter from mid-2025, in addition to annual updates to Parliament.
Changes will be introduced via three distinct phases, the government announced. The first phase, from now until 2026. is designed to ensure the government delivers its current programme of regulatory reform. Then, a second phase (2026 to 2028) will focus on creating fully developed proposals, including via legislation, before the Government turns its attention to implementing these reforms from 2028
Putting safety first
As construction firms continue to adapt to the requirements of the Building Safety Act and the newly established Building Safety Regulator, industry representatives welcomed this phased approach.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner commented: “We are acting on all of the Inquiry’s findings, and today set out our full response, detailing the tough action we are taking to drive change and reform the system to ensure no community will ever have to face a tragedy like Grenfell ever again. That means greater accountability, stronger regulation, and putting residents at the heart of decision-making.”