Estate agents handling high-rise stock could see movement on stalled remediation schemes after the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) signposted a forthcoming improvement plan aimed at speeding up decisions.
In its latest Gateway 2 update, published as a standalone body, the regulator confirmed that a formal remediation improvement plan will be announced in the coming weeks.
The package is designed to improve the efficiency, quality and timeliness of applications for remediation projects on existing high-rise residential buildings.
For estate agents marketing affected flats, delays at Gateway 2 have been a persistent friction point, holding up transactions and limiting available stock. The regulator said 86 remediation decisions have been made since December 2025, with 77 new cases received. There are currently 279 live remediation cases, representing 24,282 units.
STRENGTHENING CAPACITY
While more recent applications are averaging around 18 weeks, older and more complex cases continue to take longer. The new plan will focus on strengthening BSR resource capacity, improving internal processes and supporting the industry to submit higher quality applications.
Overall, 108 new build decisions were issued in the 12 weeks to 25 February, with 82 new applications received. Across all categories, 639 applications were closed, including 273 invalidations, and live cases now stand at 1,212. London accounts for 65% of recent decisions.
RESET THE SYSTEM
Charlie Pugsley, Acting Chief Executive of the BSR, says: “We continue to see improvements to the numbers of decisions being made for new build applications, and the numbers of safe homes being made available for the future.”
However, he acknowledged pressure on remediation timelines, adding: “We recognise that current determination times are falling short of our targets for remediation. Our Remediation improvement plan… will represent a targeted package of focussed measures to reset the system.”
For agents, the regulator’s message is clear: progress is being made, but “speed can never come at the cost of safety”, as Pugsley put it, with the goal of ensuring residents see “essential safety improvements… without unnecessary delays.”
