Gateway 2 performance has strengthened again, with the Building Safety Regulator reporting an 87% overall approval rate across its latest 12-week reporting period and 20,471 residential units clearing the higher-risk building control gateway. The latest figures mark another material step forward for the regime. BSR made 378 building control decisions across higher-risk building categories and approved 330 of them. New higher-risk buildings and major conversions reached a 96% national approval rate, while London recorded 97% and 6,855 residential units cleared the gateway in the capital.
Remediation and internal refurbishment also remain on a stronger trajectory. Existing-building remediation achieved an 87% national approval rate and 96% in London, while internal refurbishment reached 85%. The data provides some of the clearest evidence yet that BSR's operational reforms are translating into higher approval rates across several core categories.
London high-rise buildings. Image: London Construction Magazine.
LCM assessment: the latest Gateway 2 data is genuinely positive. The overall approval rate has moved from 77% in the June reporting period to 84% in the August update and now 87%, while new-build approval performance has climbed to 96% nationally and 97% in London. The regime is still carrying a large live workload and complex cases remain slower, but the direction of travel is now materially stronger than it was a year ago.
Jump to: The data at a glance | The improvement trend | New-build and conversions | London | Remediation | Internal works | Building Safety Levy surge | Gateway 3 | Major changes | BSR resources | Project implications | LCM verdict | FAQ
Gateway 2 Performance at a Glance
| Category | Latest Decisions | Approvals | Approval Rate | Median Time | Key Delivery Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Gateway 2 categories | 378 | 330 | 87% | Varies by category | 20,471 residential units cleared Gateway 2 during the rolling period. |
| New HRBs and conversions | 57 | 55 | 96% | 23 weeks | Approvals represented 11,822 residential units. |
| London new HRBs and conversions | 37 | 36 | 97% | 22 weeks | 6,855 residential units cleared in the capital. |
| Existing-building remediation | 110 | 96 | 87% | 32 weeks | 8,649 residential units approved; newer 2026 applications are progressing in around 22 weeks. |
| London remediation | 54 | 52 | 96% | Not separately stated | 4,643 residential units cleared remediation approval. |
| Internal refurbishment | 185 | 158 | 85% | 31 weeks | 2026 applications have a materially shorter 21-week median. |
| NHS applications | 26 | 21 | 81% | 20 weeks | Applications submitted in 2026 have a 17-week median. |
Critical distinction: The approval rates above relate to decisions made during the latest rolling 12-week period. They are not the percentage of all applications currently in the system that have been approved. Live workload, complexity and determination times still need to be considered alongside the improving rates.
The Improvement Trend Is Becoming Difficult to Ignore
The strongest message in the October release is not a single percentage but the direction of travel. In the 12 weeks to 28 June, BSR recorded a 77% overall Gateway 2 approval rate. The August dataset subsequently moved to 84%. The latest period to 5 October has now reached 87%. Because these are overlapping rolling reporting windows, the figures should not be treated as a simple month-by-month league table. They do, however, show a sustained improvement in regulator output across multiple categories rather than a one-off spike.
The new-build comparison is particularly striking. BSR says that in August 2025 the approval rate for new higher-risk buildings and conversions was 39%, with a 43-week median determination time. The latest 12-week period records a 96% approval rate and a 23-week median. That is a major operational change in little more than a year. LCM has been tracking that trajectory through its Gateway 2 Approval Index. The latest release strengthens the case that BSR is moving beyond its earlier backlog-management phase and towards a more stable operating model for well-prepared applications.
New-Build Approvals Reach 96% Nationally
New higher-risk buildings and major conversions produced the strongest national result in the latest dataset. BSR made 57 decisions and approved 55, giving an approval rate of 96%. Those approvals represent 11,822 residential units. The national median determination time was 23 weeks for non-complex cases. Thirty highly complex designs are being managed separately, with a 34-week median. This remains longer than the basic statutory period commonly used in early development programmes, but the combination of a much higher approval rate and materially lower median than a year ago is a positive signal for developers trying to establish more reliable pre-construction programmes.
The live new-build and conversion pipeline has also expanded. BSR is managing 186 applications representing 40,644 residential units. That volume means Gateway 2 remains commercially significant even as approvals improve: tens of thousands of homes are still dependent on regulatory progression before construction can proceed.
London New-Build Approval Rate Hits 97%
London remains the centre of higher-risk building activity and recorded an even stronger new-build result. BSR made 37 decisions in the capital and approved 36, producing a 97% approval rate. The approved projects represent 6,855 residential units, while the median determination time for non-complex London cases was 22 weeks. The capital currently has 111 new-build and conversion applications in progress representing 22,204 residential units. London therefore accounts for 60% of live national new-build applications and 55% of the units under assessment. Nineteen of the 30 live complex new-build cases are also in London, with a 35-week median determination time.
That concentration remains a delivery challenge, but the 97% approval rate is an important counterpoint to the narrative that the capital's Gateway 2 system is permanently blocked. The latest figures suggest that BSR is processing a heavy London workload while approving the overwhelming majority of new-build cases it determines.
Remediation Holds at Strong Levels as Legacy Cases Fall
Existing-building remediation remains one of the strongest parts of the latest dataset. BSR determined 110 applications and approved 96, producing an 87% national approval rate and clearing 8,649 residential units. London performed more strongly still, with 52 approvals from 54 decisions. That 96% approval rate represents 4,643 residential units. The live remediation pipeline has also reduced to 313 national cases representing 26,259 units, including 180 London cases representing 14,298 units.
Legacy remediation is continuing to unwind. BSR says the number of applications dating from 2024 has fallen from 42 at the start of 2026 to only seven nationally: six in London and one elsewhere. The rolling median for the older and more complex remediation cohort is 32 weeks, but newer applications submitted during 2026 are progressing in around 22 weeks. That distinction matters commercially. A 32-week historical median still affects the headline dataset, but it increasingly reflects older problem files rather than the likely experience of every new submission. LCM's earlier analysis of the regulator's remediation checklist and construction-ready evidence requirements remains relevant to teams trying to stay within the faster cohort.
Internal Refurbishment Approval Rate Rises to 85%
Internal refurbishment has also improved materially. Category A and B works accounted for 185 decisions during the latest period, representing 49% of all Gateway 2 decisions. BSR approved 158 of those applications, producing an 85% approval rate. The rolling median determination time was 31 weeks, but applications submitted during 2026 have a shorter 21-week median. BSR is currently overseeing 1,109 internal refurbishment cases nationally, including 749 in London.
The category remains important because it demonstrates that Gateway 2 is not simply a new-tower regime. Significant work inside existing higher-risk buildings can affect structure, fire strategy, compartmentation, services and occupied-building safety. The higher approval rate therefore represents meaningful progress across a large volume of everyday refurbishment activity, not only flagship residential developments.
BSR Activates Contingency Plans After September Application Surge
The latest release also gives a clearer picture of the application surge ahead of the Building Safety Levy, which came into force on 1 October 2026. BSR received 64 higher-risk building applications in September, compared with 34 in August, 17 in July and 12 in June. The regulator says it anticipated increased demand and has now activated contingency arrangements. These include additional scrutiny before an application is invalidated or rejected and a triage process intended to protect applications already in progress from being unduly affected by the higher intake.
For applicants, this is a mixed but broadly constructive signal. BSR remains clear that materially sub-standard applications can be rejected where there is no realistic path to approval within a reasonable period. At the same time, the additional second- and third-line assurance checks indicate that the regulator is attempting to avoid unnecessary rejection where a viable route to compliance remains.
Commercial significance: the September surge tests whether BSR can maintain improving decision performance while intake rises sharply. The latest 87% approval rate was achieved during the same period in which demand increased, which is encouraging, but the next reporting cycle will be important in showing whether triage prevents a fresh backlog from forming.
Gateway 3 Reaches 100% Approval in the Latest Decision Cohort
Gateway 3 remains at an early stage, but the latest decision cohort was positive. BSR has received 361 Gateway 3 applications, including 274 internal refurbishment applications, 42 transitional cases and 27 NHS internal refurbishment applications. Nine Gateway 3 applications were determined during the latest 12-week period and all nine were approved. The median determination time was 20 weeks and the quickest approval was completed in 16 weeks.
The sample remains too small to treat 100% as a mature benchmark, and no standard new-build project has yet transitioned through to final occupation certificate assessment. Even so, the fact that substantial internal refurbishment work is now moving into the final regulatory stage shows the regime progressing beyond Gateway 2 and into completion-stage control. BSR currently reports 122 active Gateway 3 internal-work cases, 19 NHS cases and eight external-remediation cases, with the remediation group representing 972 residential units.
Major Change Requests Continue to Grow
Improving Gateway 2 approvals do not remove construction-stage regulatory obligations. BSR is processing 208 live major change requests across projects already moving through delivery.
| Major Change Category | Live Requests |
|---|---|
| New HRBs and conversions | 85 |
| External remediation | 25 |
| HRB internal works | 71 |
| NHS applications | 24 |
| Transitional cases | 3 |
BSR closed 142 major change requests during the latest reporting period. For new-build projects, the median closure time remains seven weeks, one week longer than the regulator's six-week statutory target. This is now an important programme consideration: Gateway 2 approval gives a project an approved design basis, but material design changes during construction can still create a separate regulatory hold point.
BSR Expands Core Resource While Maintaining External Technical Support
The regulator's latest resource profile shows 181 internal core staff supporting building safety decisions, comprising 103 regulatory leads, 18 principal regulatory leads, 56 case officers, three case officer managers and one administrative officer. BSR is also supported by 491 external technical specialists, including 239 registered building inspectors, 102 fire-service professionals, 116 structural engineers and 34 other specialists. Sixty-two of those external specialists are integrated directly into the Innovation Unit or external-remediation teams.
The numbers demonstrate the scale of multidisciplinary resource now sitting behind higher-risk building control. They also help explain why the regime's performance should be assessed as an operational system rather than simply against one statutory clock. Fire, structure, building control and specialist technical issues must be assessed together before approval is issued.
What the Latest Data Means for Construction Programmes
For developers and contractors, the new figures reduce one important source of uncertainty. An 87% overall approval rate, 96% national new-build rate and 97% London new-build rate mean that compliant, sufficiently mature applications are now much more likely to reach approval than they were during the regime's earlier phase. That does not make Gateway 2 automatic. New-build median times remain around 22 to 23 weeks for non-complex cases, complex applications are materially longer and post-approval major changes can add further review periods. The construction-stage inspection programme has also identified a small number of cases where work did not conform with the agreed design and remedial work was required.
The practical conclusion is therefore positive but disciplined: regulatory risk is becoming more manageable, provided teams treat Gateway 2 as a design and evidence milestone rather than an administrative formality. Coordinated design, competent dutyholder input, clear compliance evidence and controlled change remain the route to staying within the stronger approval cohort.
LCM Verdict: Gateway 2 Has Moved Into a Much Stronger Operating Position
The October data is the strongest evidence yet that Gateway 2 is becoming a more functional part of the construction process. Overall approvals have risen to 87%, new-build and conversion approvals are at 96% nationally and 97% in London, remediation remains strong and internal refurbishment has reached 85%.
The improvement is particularly significant when set against the regulator's own comparison with August 2025, when new-build approval performance was 39% and the median determination period was 43 weeks. The latest new-build position is 96% with a 23-week median. There are still constraints. London remains heavily concentrated, complex cases take longer, Gateway 3 is only beginning to mature and the September application surge will test whether BSR can maintain its trajectory after the Building Safety Levy came into force.
Final LCM assessment: Gateway 2 is no longer defined only by delay and backlog. The latest data shows a regulator approving the large majority of determined applications, clearing more than 20,000 residential units in 12 weeks and producing particularly strong results for new-build and London projects. The next challenge is maintaining that performance through higher application volumes, construction-stage change control and the first meaningful wave of Gateway 3 completions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the latest overall Gateway 2 approval rate?
BSR reported an 87% overall approval rate across 378 decisions in the 12-week rolling period to 5 October 2026. A total of 330 applications were approved.
BSR reported an 87% overall approval rate across 378 decisions in the 12-week rolling period to 5 October 2026. A total of 330 applications were approved.
How many residential units cleared Gateway 2?
The latest BSR figures equate the approved Gateway 2 decisions to 20,471 residential units.
The latest BSR figures equate the approved Gateway 2 decisions to 20,471 residential units.
What is the latest new-build approval rate?
New higher-risk buildings and conversions achieved a 96% national approval rate, with 55 approvals from 57 decisions and 11,822 residential units cleared.
New higher-risk buildings and conversions achieved a 96% national approval rate, with 55 approvals from 57 decisions and 11,822 residential units cleared.
What is the Gateway 2 approval rate in London?
For new higher-risk buildings and conversions, London achieved a 97% approval rate. BSR approved 36 of 37 projects, representing 6,855 residential units.
For new higher-risk buildings and conversions, London achieved a 97% approval rate. BSR approved 36 of 37 projects, representing 6,855 residential units.
How is remediation performing?
Existing-building remediation reached an 87% approval rate nationally and 96% in London. National approvals represented 8,649 residential units, including 4,643 in London.
Existing-building remediation reached an 87% approval rate nationally and 96% in London. National approvals represented 8,649 residential units, including 4,643 in London.
Has the Building Safety Levy affected application volumes?
BSR recorded a sharp increase in applications ahead of the levy coming into force on 1 October 2026. September submissions reached 64, compared with 34 in August, 17 in July and 12 in June. The regulator has activated contingency, assurance and triage measures to manage the higher intake.
BSR recorded a sharp increase in applications ahead of the levy coming into force on 1 October 2026. September submissions reached 64, compared with 34 in August, 17 in July and 12 in June. The regulator has activated contingency, assurance and triage measures to manage the higher intake.
What is happening at Gateway 3?
BSR has received 361 Gateway 3 applications. Nine were determined during the latest rolling period and all nine were approved, with a 20-week median. The current Gateway 3 population is still dominated by refurbishment, transitional and NHS work rather than standard new-build completions.
BSR has received 361 Gateway 3 applications. Nine were determined during the latest rolling period and all nine were approved, with a 20-week median. The current Gateway 3 population is still dominated by refurbishment, transitional and NHS work rather than standard new-build completions.
Sources and methodology: This article was prepared using the Building Safety Regulator's official media release supplied to London Construction Magazine on 6 October 2026, covering the 12-week rolling period to 5 October 2026. Supporting regulatory context was checked against the official Building Safety Regulator building control approval application data and the Building Safety Regulator's GOV.UK profile. Trend comparisons use earlier BSR reporting periods tracked by London Construction Magazine. Because BSR publishes rolling 12-week datasets, consecutive releases overlap and should be read as a performance trend rather than as isolated monthly cohorts.
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Expert Verification & Authorship: Mihai Chelmus
Founder, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |
