The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has called on residents of high-rise buildings to join a new 20-strong panel.
The BSR, which has been established in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as part of building safety reforms, is recruiting for the first ever Statutory Residents’ Panel (SRP).
It will invite residents on the SRP to have their say during the development and implementation of the new building safety regime.
Building Safety Act
The Building Safety Act 2022 and secondary legislation are introducing the reforms. They follow recommendations in the Hackitt review after the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
The Building Safety Act 2022 requires the BSR to set up a panel to help the regulator with its work and to help shape policy and guidance. The SRP will consist of a broad representation of residents from different locations, housing types and demographics.
It will meet up to six times in the first year to give BSR advice on aspects of its design, policies, and procedures. It will base its advice on members’ real-life experience of living in high-rise properties. There are certain areas where the BSR must consult the panel by law. The group will also be able to set up smaller working groups to explore relevant, emerging issues.
HSE’s chief inspector of buildings, Peter Baker, said: “Residents will be at the heart of the new building safety regime. Setting up the Residents’ Panel is an important milestone in the BSR’s development. This group of individuals will make sure that residents will have a say on how building safety will be managed in the future, building on the valuable early work undertaken by our Interim Residents’ Panel.
“Good communication with all high-rise residents is so critical to the success of the BSR and the new regime. We want to make sure residents understand what the reforms mean for them, what their rights are, and what part they will play in the building safety regime in the future. This panel will act as the voice of their community. If you live in a high-rise building and would like to take part, we want to hear from you.”
Applications close on Friday 18 November 2022.
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