VOICES | HYWEL DAVIES Building a safer future The government has published its implementation plan in response to Dame Judith Hackitts Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety. Hywel Davies assesses the implications for construction T he governments response to DameJudith Hackitts report arrived, as promised, late in theautumn. On 18 December, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire, publishedthe implementation plan, with a very heavyemphasis on the safety of residents,in a statement to the House ofCommons. He reiterated Dame Judiths conclusion that the current system is not fit for purpose and that a radical systemic overhaul is required. While acknowledging this will take time, Brokenshire noted that the recent amendments to the Building Regulations which came into force on 21 December 2018 (see panel Combustible cladding ban) and cover external walls of buildings containing residential units more than 18m high already go beyond Dame Judiths recommendations. Reform programme The plan commits the government to give residents better information, and to empower and engage them The Implementation Plan commits the government to take forward all Dame Judiths recommendations. This will require a significant programme of reform that will take years to deliver in full. It is intended to: Create a more effective regulatory and accountability framework to give greater oversight of the industry Introduce clearer standards and guidance, and a new Standards Committee to advise on construction product and system standards, and regulations Put residents at the heart of the new system of building safety, empowering them with more effective routes for engagement and redress Help create a culture change and a more responsible building industry, from design through to construction and management. Dr HYWEL DAVIES is technical director at CIBSE www.cibse.org 10-year life will know how much that is needed and how challenging it may proveto be. The plan promises an early trial of the system soon, through a joint regulators group to help the transition to the new regulatory framework. This appears to take forward Dame Judiths idea of a jointcompetent authority, bringing various regulators together. There will be a consultation later intheyear about extending the scopeofthis body beyond the original high-riseresidential buildings to incorporate other building types and occupancy characteristics. Clearer standards and guidance are proposed that can be better understood by those carrying out building work, so they can readily identify what is required to make buildings safe. There will also be action to improve the way in which construction products are tested, labelled and marketed. At the heart of the new system, will be a stronger voice for residents. In the immediate aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire, it became very obvious thatresidents concerns had gone unheard a complaint echoed extensivelyby many others in social housing. The plan commits government to give residents better information and to empower and engagethem. Those views have also shaped the governments recently published social housing green paper.1 The government wants the new system: to drive better communication between residents and those who manage their buildings; to deliver access to appropriate information; and create effective routes for raising concerns and offering a remedy when things go wrong. The plan is clear there must be properly defined and accountable dutyholders, even if the various legal structures may make this complicated. A further consultation is promised in the spring. There is a commitment to work in four specific areas. Weare promised a stronger, more effective regulatory and accountability framework focused on keeping people safe and a tougher oversight regime with stronger and better-enforced sanctions to prevent and punish wrongdoing. Readers of this column over its Culture change The final aspect of the implementation plan sets out how the government intends to work with industry professionals to help them lead the required culture change and prioritise public safety. There is a 14 January 2019 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Jan19 pp14-15 Hywel Davies.indd 14 21/12/2018 14:54