About Us Expertise People News & Insight Events Careers Contact a d c Home Blogs Building Safety Bi...�� Gateway Overview Share Print Blog - 02/12/2021 Construction & Engineering Building Safety Bill – Gateway Overview The Building Safety Bill is set to transform the construction sector. While the Bill itself is currently in report stage, various changes to the design, construction and management of buildings are already in place enacted by reforms to other legislation. In particular, the first of the three ‘gateways’ now forms part of the planning application stage for applicable buildings. Gateways – Overview To ensure rigorous, safety-focused oversight throughout a building’s lifecycle, the Bill introduces three ‘gateways’, being mandatory hard-stops during the planning, design and construction stages for both (a) the design and construction of new higher-risk buildings (HRBs), and (b) the major refurbishment of existing HRBs (i.e. where planning consent is required). Gateway 1 – The Planning Gateway Implemented through amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, gateway 1 requires developers to submit with their planning application a fire statement evidencing that safety requirements have been considered and incorporated into the developers’ proposals. The intent of gateway 1, which came into force on 1 August 2021, is to ensure planning issues relevant to fire safety have been considered at the earliest possible stage in the development of HRBs resulting in developments which fully integrate thinking on fire safety. Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) Currently gateway 1 applies to buildings which: are either 18 meters or more in height, or seven (7) or more storeys high; and contain either two (2) or more dwellings or educational accommodation. However, the Government has stipulated the provisions might be amended to align with future arrangements made under the Building Safety Bill. Fire Statement Fire statements are to evidence that fire safety has been considered by an applicant and incorporated at the planning stage of a development. Accordingly, the information within a fire statement is to be focussed and concise, specific and relevant to the development, and proportionate to the scale, type and complexity of the proposal. A fire statement is to be submitted in the form published by the Government (or in one which is substantively the same) which, among other things, includes details of: the principles, concepts and approach to fire safety which have been applied to each building in the development; the site layout; access for emergency vehicle and water supplies for firefighting purposes; what consultation (if any) has been undertaken on fire safety for the development and the account taken of such consultation; and how any policies relating to fire safety in relevant local development documents have been taken into account. A copy of the fire statement can be found here. Government Guidance with regard to fire statements can be found here. Considerations Clearly fire statements will need to be completed by a suitably-qualified professional with demonstrable experience with the complexities of fire safety (e.g. a chartered engineer registered with the Engineering Council by the Institution of Fire Engineers). Accordingly, from the outset of a project, developers must consider the nature of such appointments, in particular that the scope of services includes dealing with the fire statement and that the consultant’s professional indemnity insurance covers such services. Furthermore, developers will need to factor in to their plans both the shortage of fire engineers and potential delays to planning applications. Time will tell whether fire statements do in fact contribute to the “integrated systemic change” envisioned by Dame Hackitt. For now, gateway 1 is but one of the many changes which will impact developers and owners of HRBs. Should you have any questions on your obligations under the new legislation or require assistance with appointments for consultants responsible for fire statements, please contact Brenna Baye or any member of the Edwin Coe Cladding team. If you aren’t receiving our legal updates directly to your mailbox, please sign up now Please note that this blog is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content of this blog. Edwin Coe LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership, registered in England & Wales (No.OC326366). The Firm is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. A list of members of the LLP is available for inspection at our registered office address: 2 Stone Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn, London, WC2A 3TH. “Partner” denotes a member of the LLP or an employee or consultant with the equivalent standing. Please also see a copy of our terms of use here in respect of our website which apply also to all of our blogs. Brenna Baye Partner Construction & Engineering Cladding Construction & Engineering At Edwin Coe, our Construction team offers both contentious ... Latest Blogs See All Blog - 02/12/2021 Building Safety Bill – Gateway Overview Construction & Engineering Blog - 30/11/2021 LIBOR Transition: 1 month to go – what you have... Banking & Finance Blog - 16/11/2021 Domestic surveillance cameras – the good, the b... Intellectual Property Blog - 10/11/2021 Lloyd v Google LLC: The Supreme Court has closed ... 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