Earlier this week, Ru and I had the privilege of speaking at the British Property Federation’s Building Safety Seminar 2024. These events always offer a fantastic opportunity to engage with industry peers, but this year felt particularly poignant. The topic of building safety is a moral imperative for anyone working in the built environment.
Building safety is one of those topics where the practical intersects with the philosophical. On the one hand, we’re grappling with technical processes, new regulations, and compliance frameworks. On the other, we’re redefining what it means to create spaces that are not just functional, but fundamentally safe for the people who live and work in them. That’s what made this seminar so impactful—it wasn’t just about solving today’s problems, but about setting a vision for the future.
The State of Play
One of the key themes we explored was the evolution of the building safety landscape. Safety cases are a huge opportunity to raise the bar, but they’re also a monumental task for teams working with fragmented data and legacy systems.
What struck me during the discussions was the diversity of approaches being taken. For newer developments, there’s an opportunity to embed the Golden Thread from the outset. But for existing stock, where information is often incomplete or inconsistent, the road is far less straightforward. Addressing these gaps is critical if we’re serious about creating a safer built environment for everyone.
Lessons Learned: The Gateway Process
A topic that sparked a lot of interest was the Gateway process, particularly Gateway Two. While it’s encouraging to see submissions being validated more quickly, the sheer level of detail required remains a stumbling block. Questions like “How much information is enough?” came up time and again—and for good reason. Ambiguity in the regulator’s guidance often leads to unnecessary back-and-forth, delaying approvals and adding frustration.
The transition from private building control providers to the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has also introduced new complexities. It’s clear that while the intent behind these changes is sound, the implementation still has some way to go. That said, the seminar wasn’t short on constructive ideas for refining the process. For example:
Enhanced IT Platforms: Features like batch uploads and intuitive folder structures could make submissions far less cumbersome.
Transparent Communication: A more open dialogue between project teams and the regulator could help clarify expectations and reduce delays.
Streamlined Approval Times: As the system matures, aligning review periods more closely with statutory timelines will be essential.
Technology’s Role in Transforming Building Safety
If there’s one area where we see enormous potential (predictably), it’s technology. As we highlighted during our session, digital transformation isn’t just an option anymore—it’s a necessity. Platforms like Building Passport are already making a tangible difference, helping clients consolidate fragmented building information and transform it into a single source of truth.
Imagine having a system that can retrieve a critical document in seconds or flag risks before they escalate. These aren’t futuristic ideas—they’re tools we’re delivering today. And as we move into areas like AI and predictive analytics, the possibilities only grow. For example, tools that can sift through vast amounts of data to surface actionable insights are already proving invaluable. It’s exciting to think about how these technologies could evolve to include real-time compliance monitoring and more advanced risk assessment capabilities.
Building a Safety-First Culture
While technology is a powerful enabler, it’s not the whole story. One of the most compelling parts of the seminar was the focus on culture. As was pointed out in pretty much every one of the talks, building safety isn’t just about meeting legislative requirements; it’s about fundamentally rethinking how we approach the design, management, and operation of buildings.
Resident engagement came up as a particularly important topic. It’s not enough to make buildings safe—we need to ensure that residents feel safe and informed. That means clear communication, transparency, and involving residents in the process wherever possible. Similarly, accountability is critical. Whether it’s principal designers, contractors, or statutory directors, everyone has a role to play. The challenge is defining those roles clearly and equipping people with the tools and processes they need to succeed.
A Smarter, Safer Future
The seminar was a stark reminder of the work that still needs to be done, but it was also an inspiring look at how far we’ve come. It’s clear that the property sector is moving in the right direction, albeit with some hurdles still to clear. For us, the big takeaway was the importance of collaboration—between regulators and industry, between technology providers and their clients, and across the entire value chain.
Platforms like Building Passport have a huge role to play in this journey. By simplifying compliance, improving operational efficiency, and fostering a proactive safety culture, we’re not just addressing today’s challenges—we’re laying the groundwork for a smarter, safer built environment.
As we reflect on the seminar, one thing is clear: we’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible. The key now is to keep the momentum going—embracing innovation, refining our processes, and, above all, putting people at the heart of everything we do.
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