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David Savage is a partner and head of construction engineering & projects at Charles Russell Speechlys
Grenfell Tower was an all too typical undertaking for its level of value, procured on the same flawed basis of construction economics and pressures that are calm recognisable all over the place. It was also discharged against a backdrop of regulatory confusion, obfuscation and failures that stretched back literally decades.
Its horrific final consequence was fully predictable, and indeed was predicted by several parties. The residents of Grenfell Tower itself, a alternative of campaigning journalists and architects, the Condominium of Commons’ All-Party Parliamentary Staff on Hearth Safety had been a few of these instantly implicated by the inquiry who had been astonishingly prescient of their predictions.
“Introducing a new contractor licensing gadget will have significant challenges”
The phase two document of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, released earlier this month, sheds gentle on crucial findings to forestall another tragedy of this form from recurring. One of the document’s key recommendations is the proposed introduction of a single construction regulator that would, among other issues, warrant the licensing of contractors to work on larger-threat constructions. The document also recommends that the definition of larger-threat constructing beneath the Building Safety Act 2022 be urgently reviewed, with the clear steer it will calm be broadened, without saying exactly how.
The document goes on to indicate that political responsibility for construction must calm be unified beneath a single secretary of state, and that a chief construction adviser be appointed to advise them.
These are important and welcome recommendations. Nonetheless, there shall be some who prove the level of change and adaption calm taking place within the construction industry for the reason that introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022, and ask how the phase two recommendations take a seat with what has already been launched onto the statute book.
The reality is, the industry is calm playing catch-up with that. As soon as dangerous cladding and insultation has finally been fully eliminated from taller residential constructions, we can – on present plans, laws and regulations – be left with a materially enhanced constructing defend watch over regime, with clarified and changed constructing regulations. These shall be deployed against what must calm be a materially lower-threat estate of larger-rise residential housing going forwards.
So the expansive query is, what more must calm be achieved? We now know the answer of the phase two inquiry. This may well be triumphant in additional addressing gaps in constructing safety oversight, by guaranteeing that these in charge for construction defend to rigorous safety standards. But how will it impact the broader construction sector and what would be the inevitable additional challenges this may bring?
Advantages of licensing contractors
The document states: “One way in which to eliminate shortcomings of the form we have known and to red meat up the efficiency of contractors can be to introduce a licensing gadget for these wishing to undertake work on larger-threat constructions. That would make positive that these engaged on probably the most delicate constructions are qualified by abilities.”
The proposed licensing gadget can be based on competency and standards. It will make positive that handiest contractors with verified qualifications and a history of adhering to safety standards are accredited to undertake such projects.
This may well also mandate that contractors meet explicit criteria related to their qualifications, abilities, and adherence to safety protocols. By imposing these standards, the threat of safety breaches shall be significantly lowered.
A licensing framework would also assist to create a structured approach to monitoring and regulating contractors. Regular audits and evaluations can be part of this task, guaranteeing ongoing compliance with safety regulations.
More broadly, the hope is that such a gadget would enhance public belief in constructing safety. The rebuilding of self belief is far vital following such a significant tragedy that has rocked and shamed the construction sector.
Challenges and impact on the broader sector
Despite the potential advantages of a “large single regulator”, we have to acknowledge that introducing a new contractor licensing gadget will have significant challenges.
At the origin, creating a licensing framework requires substantial effort, including designing standards, establishing a regulatory physique, and creating mechanisms for enforcement. Training programmes and certification processes may also have to be developed to make positive that contractors meet the necessary criteria. This may occasionally require time and helpful resource that many builders simply achieve no longer have, which may cause delays to projects and lead to financial losses.
It remains to be viewed as as to whether industry stakeholders shall be adversarial to the licensing gadget. Some may belief it as an additional burden, as a consequence of the cost and time that will have to be allocated.
Within the coming weeks and months, this may be important to address these concerns thru coarse-sector consultation and collaboration to make positive that the gadget is practical, accessible, and meets the stated goals of the inquiry recommendations. As ever, the “law of unintended outcomes” must also be carefully belief to be.
The need for simplicity
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase two document highlights the need for significant reforms to forestall future tragedies and enhance constructing safety, and the recommendation to introduce a contractor licensing gadget is a significant additional step towards achieving these goals.
But as the manager and industry stakeholders transfer forward with these recommendations, it is important to make positive that any new processes are communicated effectively, and are accessible for your entire sector, especially given the amount of industry change and adaption already dwelling in go by the Building Safety Act.
What we really want is for any “large single regulator” to act as an enabler, no longer a blocker, and for the route to achieving compliance to be as straightforward as that you can imagine, and no longer a guessing game. Clear, unified, larger-profile political leadership must calm aid that goal.
