Landmark “Building Safety (Wales) Bill” released

Last week on 7 July, the Welsh Government introduced the new Building Safety (Wales) Bill and its Explanatory Memorandum. Alongside this landmark Bill, the Welsh Government’s response to the Phase 2 recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry was also released. 

This marks a significant step forward in enhancing building safety across Wales. This legislative initiative is a direct response to the Grenfell Tower Tragedy, which underscored the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in building safety standards.

Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, stated: 

“This landmark Bill will fundamentally transform safety in multi-occupied residential buildings across Wales…Its key principles are safety, accountability and residents’ voices, and it goes wider and further than existing legislation in other parts of the UK.”

The Bill will require that both fire and structural risks are actively assessed and managed during the time which buildings are in occupation, for the benefit of residents and others. To support this, a strong enforcement framework will be established. The legislation will also define clear lines of responsibility within multi-occupied residential buildings, by introducing new roles and duties for building owners and managers. Additionally, it will empower residents by strengthening their rights and ensuring they have a stronger voice over concerns that affect their homes. 

In summary, the Bill will establish a regime which will:

• Identify those responsible and which people statutory duties under the Bill will be placed upon.
• Require the registration of certain regulated buildings – including those reaching 11 metres in height or comprising of five or more storeys with a building safety authority. 
• Grant new functions to the “building safety authority”, defined as each local authority in Wales. 
• Grant new functions to the “fire safety authority” in Wales, which includes each fire and rescue authority for an area in Wales, or fire inspectors in relation to Crown buildings.
• Introduce new duties to assess and manage fire safety risks in all in-scope buildings.
• Introduce new duties to assess and manage structural safety risks in buildings within scope that are at least 11 metres high, or which have at least five storeys.
• Establish new rights for residents and impose new duties on them in respect of all in-scope buildings. 
• Create a new enforcement regime to enable enforcement action to be taken if the newly created duties are not met. 

The Building Safety (Wales) Bill, its Explanatory Memorandum, and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase 2 report: Welsh Government response, can be found below:

• Building Safety (Wales) Bill 
• Building Safety (Wales) Bill: Explanatory Memorandum  
• Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase 2 report: Welsh Government response 

If you would like more information on this, please contact Alex Clarke or Lena Barnes.