From 26 March 2026 to 28 May 2026, the UK Governments Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's (MHCLG) consulted on proposals to improve the proportionality of the building control process for Category A and Category B building work to existing buildings under the higher-risk building (HRB) control regime (‘the regime’).

The consultation sought views on how guidance could be improved and the role of Competent Persons Schemes in Category B works.

CIOB has welcomed many of the recent changes to the building safety regime, including moving responsibility for the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) into MHCLG, the introduction of multidisciplinary teams and amendments to the system to ensure that applications are dealt with in a timely manner to avoid unnecessary and costly delays in the construction process.

However, CIOB still has some concerns with the proposals relating to the continued lack of data on impact, the risks associated with excluding internal fire doors, and the increased risk in communal areas.

These concerns are set out in our full response below.