Central to the plan is the creation of a dedicated external remediation multidisciplinary team (MDT), supported by account managers to streamline communication with applicants. Staffing levels are also to be increased to reduce individual caseloads from around 25 cases to approximately 10, allowing regulatory leads to focus on more complex technical decisions.
To help projects progress more quickly, BSR will expand the use of ‘approval with requirements’, enabling works to begin safely while outstanding technical details are resolved. The regulator is targeting average decision times of under 12 weeks by December 2026, alongside an approval rate of more than 65%—a significant improvement on current performance.
The aim is to clear the backlog of legacy cases and reduce the overall caseload to 80–100 applications by September 2026, helping ensure that residents in high-rise buildings benefit from essential safety upgrades without unnecessary delay.
Addressing delays and legacy cases
Around 40% of remediation applications rely on government funding, with older and more complex cases contributing heavily to delays.
To tackle this, BSR will prioritise clearing legacy cases, introduce a clear prioritisation framework for applications, and increase direct engagement with applicants through meetings and improved communication.
Improving application quality
The regulator highlighted that incomplete or poor-quality submissions are a major cause of delays, with common issues including missing fire safety evidence, lack of structural calculations, and unclear design details.
New and updated guidance will be rolled out to help applicants submit complete and compliant documentation, address technical requirements more effectively, and navigate challenges specific to existing high-risk buildings.
BSR is also developing digital tools to improve visibility, allowing applicants to track progress more easily.
What it means for agents and the sector
For property agents and professionals involved in remediation projects, the changes are expected to reduce uncertainty and delays in progress works, improve communication with the regulator, and place greater emphasis on high-quality, fully evidenced applications.
