Gateway 3 is the final approval stage before a higher-risk building can be occupied.
At Gateway 3, BSR checks whether the building has been constructed in line with what was approved earlier. This decision relies heavily on site evidence.
If work was done correctly but not recorded, it may still fail Gateway 3. If work was changed without approval, it will almost certainly fail.
Gateway 3 is not about promises or explanations. It is about proof.
At Gateway 3, BSR checks whether the building has been constructed in line with what was approved earlier. This decision relies heavily on site evidence.
If work was done correctly but not recorded, it may still fail Gateway 3. If work was changed without approval, it will almost certainly fail.
Gateway 3 is not about promises or explanations. It is about proof.
In practical terms, Gateway 3 is where all site decisions are tested against evidence. It is the point at which design intent, site activity and records must align. If they do not, the outcome is delay, further work, or refusal to approve occupation.
This means that good construction alone is not enough. Work that is carried out correctly but not recorded has the same regulatory outcome as work that was never done properly. At Gateway 3, undocumented compliance is treated as non-compliance.
It also places greater responsibility on how site information is managed throughout the project. Evidence gathered late, reconstructed from memory, or pieced together after completion is far more likely to be challenged than information captured as the work progressed.
Gateway 3 therefore rewards consistency rather than last-minute effort. Projects that manage evidence steadily from day one tend to move through the final approval process with fewer interruptions and less scrutiny.
The simplest way to approach Gateway 3 is to work backwards from it. If every critical activity is carried out as though it will need to be proven later, the final approval becomes a confirmation exercise rather than a risk point.
This means that good construction alone is not enough. Work that is carried out correctly but not recorded has the same regulatory outcome as work that was never done properly. At Gateway 3, undocumented compliance is treated as non-compliance.
It also places greater responsibility on how site information is managed throughout the project. Evidence gathered late, reconstructed from memory, or pieced together after completion is far more likely to be challenged than information captured as the work progressed.
Gateway 3 therefore rewards consistency rather than last-minute effort. Projects that manage evidence steadily from day one tend to move through the final approval process with fewer interruptions and less scrutiny.
The simplest way to approach Gateway 3 is to work backwards from it. If every critical activity is carried out as though it will need to be proven later, the final approval becomes a confirmation exercise rather than a risk point.
Image © London Construction Magazine Limited
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Expert Verification & Authorship: Mihai Chelmus
Founder, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |
