The Building Safety Regulator’s latest Gateway 2 update shows approval rates continuing to rise, with stronger performance across remediation, new-build, internal refurbishment and early Gateway 3 indicators.
Across all Gateway 2 categories, including internal refurbishment Category A/B works, BSR made 368 decisions in the 12 weeks to 28 June 2026. Of those, 284 were approvals, giving a headline approval rate of 77%. London remained the largest concentration of activity, accounting for 57% of all Gateway 2 decisions across all categories.
For construction, the update is a positive signal. It suggests that BSR process changes, additional resources, updated guidance and closer engagement with applicants are now feeding into higher approval rates. But it also confirms that Gateway 2 remains an evidence-led approval regime where design maturity, dutyholder coordination and application quality still control programme risk.
BSR Gateway 2 approval performance is improving, but the route to approval is still controlled by evidence quality. The latest figures show better throughput, stronger remediation progress and early Gateway 3 signals, not a return to low-friction pre-Building Safety Act delivery.
What This Means
The latest update shows Gateway 2 moving in the right direction. The overall approval rate has risen to 77%, up from the previous 75% position tracked by London Construction Magazine’s Gateway 2 Approval Index. That matters because Gateway 2 is now a major pre-construction control point for higher-risk buildings, new residential towers, conversions, remediation schemes and internal works in occupied HRBs. The strongest signal is remediation. BSR says operational improvements linked to its external remediation improvement plan have lifted existing building remediation approval rates to 85% over the latest rolling 12-week period. This is already above the regulator’s minimum 65% end-of-year target for 2026.
New-build performance has also improved. BSR reported 25 new-build approvals from 28 decisions, representing an 89% approval rate. In London, new-build decisions reached a 91% approval rate across 20 case decisions. The update should be read as positive, but not simple. Higher approval rates do not mean Gateway 2 is now easy. They suggest that better-quality submissions, more structured engagement and additional technical resources are helping applications move through the system where the underlying evidence is strong enough.
By the Numbers
| Measure | Latest BSR Figure | Construction Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway 2 decisions | 368 decisions in 12 weeks | Shows decision throughput across new build, remediation and internal works. |
| Overall approval rate | 77% | Confirms continued improvement, but still leaves around one in four decisions outside straightforward approval. |
| London share of decisions | 57% | London remains the dominant Gateway 2 pressure point across all categories. |
| External remediation approval rate | 85% | Shows the strongest improvement signal and exceeds BSR’s 65% minimum target for 2026. |
| New-build approval rate | 89% | Indicates stronger movement through the Innovation Unit for new-build HRB schemes. |
| New-build units approved | 6,544 residential units | Shows direct housing-delivery relevance from Gateway 2 decisions. |
| Gateway 3 approval rate | 86% | Early Gateway 3 indicators are emerging, mainly from Category A/B refurbishment projects. |
| BSR assessment resource | 152 internal staff and 493 external specialists | Shows BSR scaling technical assessment capacity to manage demand. |
Remediation Approval Rate Moves Above Target
External remediation is the clearest positive movement in the latest update. BSR says operational improvements and work to improve application quality have increased remediation approval rates to 85% over the latest 12-week period. That performance is materially above the regulator’s minimum 65% end-of-year target for 2026. Over the latest period, 85 remediation decisions were made, with approvals covering 4,998 units.
The legacy case position has also improved. Following the external remediation improvement plan introduced in April, 14 legacy 2024 applications now remain, down from 42 at the start of 2026. BSR says its teams are working closely with applicants to resolve outstanding issues so projects can be approved as soon as possible. For residents, landlords and remediation contractors, this is important. Higher approval rates can help more safety-critical projects move towards site delivery. However, the median remediation approval time remains 35 weeks because older applications are still moving through the system. BSR says more recent applications are moving faster where submission quality is stronger.
Related LCM Intelligence
LCM’s Gateway 2 Approval Index has been updated to include the latest BSR figures. Also see BSR Gateway 2 Approvals Hit 75% and BSR & Gateway Guidance for London Projects.
New-Build Approvals Rise to 89%
New-build applications continued to move through the BSR’s Innovation Unit, with 25 approvals from 28 decisions during the latest 12-week period. That gives a new-build approval rate of 89%. For new higher-risk buildings and conversions, decisions over the latest period resulted in approvals representing 6,544 residential units. BSR is currently managing 138 new-build and conversion applications in progress, representing 30,393 units.
London remains central to this picture. Twenty of the 28 new-build decisions were in London, representing 3,559 units. The capital recorded a 91% new-build approval rate, marginally above the national new-build position. This matters for housing delivery because Gateway 2 approval is a key control point before work can begin on higher-risk building schemes. Faster and more predictable determinations can support funding confidence, contractor mobilisation and development programming. But only if applicants provide the level of coordinated evidence required under the Building Safety Act regime.
Internal Refurbishment Now Visible as a Major Workload
The latest dataset separates internal refurbishment works into their own category for the first time. This is important because internal works now make up the majority of BSR’s current live caseload. BSR says 63% of all live cases, 952 out of 1,504, are for HRB internal works. These applications have a 73% approval rate and a median determination time of 28 weeks.
This changes how the industry should understand Gateway 2 risk. The regime is not only affecting new towers or large conversion schemes. It is also affecting refurbishment, fit-out, M&E replacement, fire safety upgrades and internal works in occupied higher-risk buildings. For contractors, this means evidence planning cannot be left until late design or pre-start. Internal works may still require a clear building-control approval strategy, accurate scope definition, competent dutyholder coordination and Golden Thread-ready information.
Gateway 3 Indicators Begin to Emerge
The latest update also gives early signs of Gateway 3 performance. BSR has received 277 Gateway 3 applications to date. Of these, 221 are for Category A/B refurbishments. So far, 124 Gateway 3 applications have been determined, with an 86% approval rate and a median determination time of 16 weeks. The fastest approval to date was eight weeks.
BSR notes that the Gateway 3 data does not yet include a standard new-build or conversion application that has passed through Gateway 2. That means the early Gateway 3 performance should not yet be treated as a full benchmark for new-build completion-stage approvals. Nevertheless, the early data is useful. It suggests that refurbishment projects with completed Gateway 2 approvals are now generating the first meaningful Gateway 3 performance indicators. For the market, this is the beginning of a new risk area: not only gaining approval to start, but securing approval at completion and occupation stage.
What Contractors and Developers Should Take From This
The latest BSR figures are encouraging, but they should not lead project teams to underestimate Gateway 2. A 77% approval rate is a clear improvement, but it still means that a significant minority of decisions are not approvals. The practical lesson is that better applications are moving more effectively. BSR has linked improved outcomes to process changes, guidance, resources and continued engagement with applicants. For dutyholders, that points to the importance of preparing complete, coordinated and technically mature submissions.
Contractors should also read the resourcing data carefully. BSR says it has 152 internal staff members involved in managing Gateway 2 applications, supported by 493 external specialists from partner organisations. These include 222 Registered Building Inspectors and 125 Structural Engineers, with 64 external experts fully integrated into the Innovation Unit and External Remediation Teams. That level of technical resource shows the scale of the approval regime. It also suggests that Gateway 2 is becoming more structured, not less demanding. The approval environment may be improving, but the expectation for clear design evidence is not reducing.
Programme and Procurement Implications
For developers, the latest figures may support more confidence around Gateway 2 planning assumptions. Approval rates are rising, remediation performance is stronger and new-build approvals are moving. That can help project boards, funders and delivery teams make more realistic decisions around procurement and start-on-site programming. But Gateway 2 should still be treated as a front-end programme risk. Design teams need enough time to resolve fire strategy, structural strategy, competence evidence, dutyholder appointments, compliance narratives, construction control plans and Golden Thread information before submission.
For contractors, the risk is pricing or programming work on the assumption that approval will follow automatically. It will not. A project that reaches Gateway 2 with unresolved design gaps, missing evidence or unclear responsibility may still face delay, revision or rejection. The strongest commercial response is early evidence discipline. Teams that prepare Gateway 2 as a technical approval package, rather than an administrative filing exercise, are more likely to benefit from the improved BSR environment.
Practical Scenarios
A remediation scheme with a stronger application pack, clear fire-risk evidence and early engagement with BSR may now have a better prospect of moving through the system than similar legacy cases submitted with incomplete information.
A new-build higher-risk building in London may benefit from improved Innovation Unit engagement, but it still needs coordinated design information and clear evidence from the client, BR Principal Designer, design team and contractor.
An internal refurbishment project in an occupied HRB may now sit within the largest visible live case category. Fit-out, M&E and fire-safety teams should not assume Gateway 2 only applies to large external or new-build projects.
A project approaching Gateway 3 should prepare completion evidence early. The emerging Gateway 3 data suggests approvals can be achieved, but completion-stage evidence and issue resolution will become increasingly important.
Evidence-Based Summary
BSR Gateway 2 approval performance is improving across multiple categories.
The latest update shows 368 Gateway 2 decisions, a 77% overall approval rate, 85% external remediation approval performance and 89% new-build approval performance.
London remains central to the national picture, accounting for 57% of all Gateway 2 decisions and 59% of in-progress new-build applications.
The key construction message is positive but disciplined: BSR throughput is improving, but approval still depends on submission quality, design maturity and coordinated building-safety evidence.
FAQ: BSR Gateway 2 Approval Update
What is the latest Gateway 2 approval rate?
BSR reported a 77% approval rate across all Gateway 2 categories in the 12 weeks to 28 June 2026, with 368 decisions and 284 approvals.
What is the latest remediation approval rate?
External remediation approval performance reached 85% over the latest 12-week period, above BSR’s minimum 65% target for 2026.
How are new-build applications performing?
New-build decisions reached an 89% approval rate, with 25 approvals from 28 decisions and approvals representing 6,544 residential units.
Why does London matter in the data?
London accounted for 57% of all Gateway 2 decisions across all categories and remains the dominant location for new-build higher-risk building applications.
What does the Gateway 3 data show?
BSR has received 277 Gateway 3 applications to date, mostly Category A/B refurbishments. Of 124 determined applications, the approval rate is 86% with a 16-week median determination time.
Does the update mean Gateway 2 is now low risk?
No. Approval rates are improving, but Gateway 2 remains a material programme and evidence risk. Applications still need mature design information, coordinated dutyholder input and clear Golden Thread evidence.
Source Context and Editorial Note
This article is editorial analysis by London Construction Magazine based on the Building Safety Regulator media update issued on 1 July 2026: “BSR gateway 2 approvals continue to rise with remediation application approval rate up to 85%”. It also reflects BSR transparency data on building control approval applications and London Construction Magazine’s Gateway 2 Approval Index.
This article does not provide legal, design, engineering or building-control advice. Project teams should refer to the Building Safety Regulator’s published guidance, statutory requirements and project-specific professional advice before making Gateway 2 or Gateway 3 submissions.
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Expert Verification & Authorship: Mihai Chelmus
Founder, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |
