Health and safety | UK Regulatory Outlook July 2025

Reforms to Building Safety Regulator to accelerate housebuilding 

As announced in its press release on 30 June 2025, the government is bringing in a new set of reforms to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), including a new fast track process, to "enhance the review of newbuild applications, unblock delays and boost sector confidence". 

As part of the steps towards the creation of a new body to take on the functions of the BSR from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the fast track process will bring building inspector and engineer capacity directly into the BSR. The government has also promised to provide the BSR with over 100 additional new members of staff, in an attempt to enhance operations, reduce delays and support progress towards building safe homes.  

MHCLG publishes guidance on Residential PEEPs for disabled and vulnerable residents 

With the publishing of the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published a guidance package to assist building owners and managers. The package includes: a Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) factsheet, an impact assessment and a toolkit for responsible persons.  

The regulations introduce new duties for building owners and managers of high-rise and higher risk residential buildings to address fire safety concerns for their most vulnerable tenants. Under these regulations, residents with disabilities or impairments will be entitled to:  

• a person-centred fire risk assessment that considers their individual risks and ability to evacuate in the event of a fire;
• reasonable and proportionate measures to mitigate those risks;
• a written statement detailing the actions they should take during a fire; and
• the sharing of relevant information with their local fire and rescue service to ensure that responders are aware of where the most vulnerable residents are located and can assist with evacuation or rescue if needed. 

The regulations are due to come into force on 6 April 2026.