The Gateway 2 approval stage has recently been a critical and time-consuming chokepoint in the regulatory process for higher-risk buildings (HRBs). In a talk on 2nd October, Andy Roe, Chair of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), outlined a shift in how approvals will be handled, offering hope that what currently takes many months could soon meet the target of being reviewed within 12 weeks.
Understanding the Current Bottleneck
Gateway 2 applications were transferred to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) when it formally took over responsibility from local authorities as part of the introduction of the Building Safety Act. This centralisation aimed to streamline oversight of higher-risk buildings, but it contributed to backlogs as the BSR scaled up its workforce and processes to handle the volume.
At present, the Gateway 2 sign-off process can stretch up to 48 weeks, according to the BSR chair Andy Roe who was talking at Building the Future Conference today (2nd October 2025). The regulator’s target is to bring that down to around 12 weeks a drastic compression of the timeline. This backlog has created uncertainty, stalled projects, and added cost and time pressures across the sector.
Below we detail how the BSR is planning to reduce wait times and accelerate Gateway 2 approvals and what it means for the wider built environment.
- Batching Applications
The BSR plans to bundle batches of up to 20 Gateway 2 applications for review by a single multi-disciplinary team (MDT). This collective approach allows for higher volumes to be processed more efficiently.
- Internal Account Managers
Dedicated account managers will be assigned to oversee significant accounts and specific regions to aid in reviewing applications sooner, avoiding bottlenecks in high-demand areas or from clients with a high number of applications.
- Improving IT and Data Systems
The BSR recognises that outdated internal systems have contributed to bottlenecks. Plans are underway to modernise IT infrastructure and enhance data management, enabling applications to be tracked more efficiently and processed with greater transparency.
- Increased Staff
The regulator intends to recruit over 100 new staff, boosting its capacity by around 60%. With more inspectors, engineers, and technical officers in place, the BSR will be better equipped to handle the growing workload and reduce application backlogs.
Will These changes be enough to reduce backlogs
The reforms represent a serious attempt to tackle the long waits that have defined Gateway 2 since their move to being managed by the BSR. Bundling applications, account managers, modernised systems, and new staff should collectively drive efficiencies and provide applicants with clearer pathways. However, questions remain around whether these measures will be sufficient to consistently hit the ambitious target of reducing approvals from 48 weeks to 12. Success will depend on how well these changes are implemented, whether the regulator can recruit and retain the right expertise, and how effectively the new processes balance speed with safety scrutiny.
Stay Ahead of Gateway 2 Changes Contact Ventro today for guidance on preparing your applications and navigating the BSRs application processes.
