Building Safety Act in Practice: How Gateway Approvals Are Impacting Project Timelines

Gateway approvals are a key part of the Building Safety Act regime for higher-risk buildings, introducing greater regulatory scrutiny before construction can begin.

For high-rise developments, Gateway 2 requires approval from the Building Safety Regulator before building work starts. This typically involves detailed information on design, fire and structural safety, compliance and how building safety risks will be managed.

While the statutory assessment period for new higher-risk building applications is 12 weeks, more complex or incomplete submissions can take considerably longer, creating additional programme and delivery risk.

For developers, investors and project teams, the impact is clear: Gateway approvals need to be considered early within design, procurement and programme planning to reduce delays and improve delivery certainty.

BAQUS provides commercially focused project and cost management advice to help clients understand regulatory impacts, plan effectively and manage project risk with confidence.