Developers warn new approval process is adding up to 18 months to project timelines
The construction industry is facing severe delays in high-rise developments due to prolonged approval processes under the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). The gateway approval system, introduced as part of the Building Safety Act 2022, was designed to improve safety and accountability in high-rise projects, but developers say it is now creating major bottlenecks, adding up to 18 months to construction schedules.
Student housing giant Unite was one of the first developers to publicly highlight the issue, revealing in a recent trading update that delays caused by new BSR approval gateways were forcing them to add at least six months to project timelines. However, the problem is industry-wide.
David O’Leary, executive director for policy at the Home Builders’ Federation, has warned that some developers are reporting waits of a year or more just to clear regulatory approvals, leading to major setbacks across the sector.
“This is huge,” says O’Leary. “It’s right up there with the biggest issues the industry is facing.”
The BSR approval process requires developers to pass through strict gateway assessments before construction can begin. While these checks were implemented to ensure higher safety standards, industry experts argue that understaffing, inefficient processing, and reliance on outsourced assessments are significantly slowing approvals.
With housing supply under pressure, the industry is calling for urgent intervention to streamline the regulatory process while maintaining essential safety standards. Without reform, these delays risk stalling critical high-rise projects and exacerbating the housing crisis.
