The government will introduce a new single regulator responsible for the entire construction industry, deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner has confirmed.
Rayner made the commitment as she shared the government’s response to the Grenfell Inquiry final report today (26 February) in Parliament, in which it accepted all of the Inquiry’s recommendations.
The new single regulator, which is not expected before 2028, will deliver all the functions included in the Grenfell Inquiry final report except for construction product testing and certification and the issue of certificates of compliance.
“We do not believe it is appropriate for the single regulator to undertake testing and certification of construction products or issue certificates of compliance, as this would create a new conflict of interest within the regulator,” said the government’s response.
“Instead, we will strengthen oversight of conformity assessment bodies through reforms to the construction products regime. We will go further than the inquiry’s recommendation by consulting on strengthening the investigation of serious building safety incidents.”
The government will also appoint a chief construction adviser who will monitor the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government work relating to the Building Regulations, statutory guidance and the construction industry more generally.
Former UK chief construction adviser Paul Morrell told CM in September that the number of candidates fit for the new role recommended by the Grenfell Inquiry is “very limited”.
Investigation of companies
The Cabinet Office has launched an investigation into seven companies criticised by the Inquiry for professional misconduct using new debarment powers in the Procurement Act 2023 which came into force this week and could face a bar from public contracts.
The companies investigated are Kingspan Insulation, Rydon Maintenance, Arconic, Saint-Gobain (in relation to its former ownership of Celotex), Exova, Studio E Architects and Harley Facades.
The Inquiry found manufacturing companies Arconic, Kingspan and Celotex had acted with “systematic dishonesty”.
“Their disgraceful, mercenary behaviour put profit before people and exploited the regulatory regime to evade accountability with fatal consequences,” said Rayner in Parliament.
In her foreword to the government’s response, Rayner said: “The Inquiry has laid bare the truth in painstaking detail, amplifying the demands and the need for justice. I understand that for many this means criminal charges. The government fully supports the Metropolitan Police in its investigation.
“We must face the stark reality that the failings that led to the events on 14 June 2017 were not unique to Grenfell Tower. Thousands of people are still living in buildings with combustible cladding across the country. The impact on their lives is completely intolerable and the speed at which this has been addressed has been too slow.”
