From 30 September 2026, all new residential buildings 18m or over in England will have to include a second staircase.

Following a recent government announcement, second staircases in high-rises are back in the spotlight. Michelle Essen and Kate Hanson explain what’s new.

With so much going on around building safety, it can be difficult to keep track on the proposed requirements around second staircases in high-rises. Here, Simon Lewis and Michelle Essen summarise where things currently stand.

CIOB has welcomed the government’s new requirement on all new buildings of 18 metres or higher to have a second staircase.

Wates Residential and Havering Council have paused a regeneration project in Romford, East London, due to uncertainty about the second staircase rule.