BSR Gateway 2 approvals have risen to 71%, with more than 12,000 housing units approved in the last 12 weeks, latest figures show.
Data from the Building Safety Regulator’s building control Gateway 2 update reveals that applications for 17,626 residential units were received, and applications for 17,046 units were determined, of which 12,229 were approvals.
The figures also show that its batching process is proving effective in speeding up early assessment and decisions. Across all three major categories – new build, remediation and refurbishment – the median time from a case being issued to a supplier to a full assessment being returned is just four weeks.
Specifically, 254 new build cases have been issued through batching, with 43 decisions (of 87 returned to date) resulting in a median time of nine weeks from issue to supplier to decision. 408 remediation cases have been issued, with 33 decisions (of 140 returned) at a median time of 10 weeks. For refurbishment, 758 cases have been issued to the batching process so far. 82 decisions (of 321 returned) have also been reached at a median time of 11 weeks.
Innovation Unit approvals
The data also shows new-build applications continue to move through the Innovation Unit (IU) with a growing number of decisions and a rising approval rate.
All-time IU approvals now stand at 33, with a median approval time of 22 weeks. It is currently managing 143 live applications, representing 27,900 units.
Following on from BSR’s introduction of its External Remediation Improvement Plan, 20 legacy 2024 applications now remain from 42 at the start of 2026. A further 12 applications are on track to be determined by mid-May.
The regulator says operational improvements and intensive work to improve applications have seen approval rates rise to near the minimum 65% target for 2026. The average approval time was 25 weeks in a rolling 12-week period, which the BSR says reflects the older 2024/2025 applications that are now concluding.
For refurbishment, 758 cases have been issued to the batching process so far. 82 decisions (of 321 returned) have also been reached at a median time of 11 weeks.
Legacy cases
The regulator reports it has reduced the number of legacy, long-term cases to eight. These have been significant technical challenges and have been managed as ‘complex cases’ since February.
Charlie Pugsley, acting chief executive officer of the Building Safety Regulator, said while encouraged by the increase in positive approvals and faster decision times, the regulator remains focused on its objective. “… we remain steadfastly committed to ensuring that accelerated decision-making must never come at the cost of building safety,” he said.
