Building Safety Regulator Approves 92% of Gateway 2 Applications

What happened

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) approved 92% of gateway 2 applications over a 12-week period ending 1 November 2026, according to the latest figures reported by Roofing Today. This equates to 19,409 new residential units being cleared to progress. BSR’s approval rates for new higher-risk buildings (HRB) and conversions were 95% nationally and reached 97% in London. Approvals for existing building remediation stood at 93% nationally and 98% in the capital.

Between late August and early November, BSR made 42 decisions regarding new build projects, approving 40 applications, which allowed 9,453 new homes to move forward. At the same time, 122 remediation applications were determined, with 113 gaining approval (93%).

Category A and B internal refurbishments were also a significant area, with 218 decisions made—54% of all gateway 2 decisions nationally and 63% in London. The approval rate for these internal refurbishments nationally was 91%. In London, refurbishment approvals reached 92%, with a median determination time of 32 weeks.

The background

In November 2025, gateway 2 remediation decisions had a 44-week median decision time and an approval rate of only 32%. The latest figures indicate a marked improvement in both the approval rate and processing speed. BSR now manages 183 live new build and conversion applications, representing 39,843 homes.

London continues to be the busiest region, with 30 of the 42 national new build decisions. Of these, 29 were approved, unlocking 6,733 homes. Nationally, there are 292 active remediation cases (23,479 residential units), including 171 in London (13,180 units).

New applications reached an average rate of 39 per week, totalling 470 during the period. In terms of internal refurbishments, there are 1,116 active cases nationally, of which 751 are in London.

With regards to NHS healthcare projects, 18 out of 21 applications were approved in the same period. The median determination time for NHS projects was 20 weeks. Nationally, the approval rate for NHS gateway 2 healthcare applications was 86%.

What people are saying

Charlie Pugsley, Acting CEO of the Building Safety Regulator, noted what he described as clear progress in processing and approvals, particularly in helping schemes move forward more quickly. He stated that “gateway 2 approvals have reached 92%” and highlighted the 98% remediation approval rate in London. Pugsley said the BSR would continue efforts to streamline application determination times, and would focus on ensuring that homes are safe through more robust regulation and an expanded site inspection programme. He also said that the regulator remains focussed on maintaining scrutiny throughout the process.

The numbers

At the end of this rolling period, BSR’s median determination time for new builds was 20 weeks. Remediation schemes took a median of 44 weeks in late 2025, but have since shown reduced times (precise current timing for remediation approvals was not specified). For internal refurbishments, median timelines were 30 weeks nationally and 32 weeks in London.

The regulator has active oversight on 183 live new build and conversion cases (39,843 units) and 292 remediation schemes (23,479 units), as of the date of the latest figures. There are 1,116 active internal refurbishment cases (751 in London). Gateway 3 is a later step: no new build projects have completed this stage yet, though there are 138 active internal work cases, 16 for NHS works, and 10 for external remediation at gateway 3.

What happens next

BSR indicates that work is underway to expand resources and improve determination times, particularly for internal refurbishments. The regulator says it is handling a recent surge in applications prompted by the pre-levy period, and expects to maintain scrutiny as the new regime matures.

No new-build projects passing gateway 2 have yet reached gateway 3 final assessment. The pipeline consists of large numbers of ongoing applications, with tens of thousands of homes across the approval process. BSR claims its primary aim remains ensuring safety and accountability in high-rise residential construction and remediation projects.