Gateway 2 Approval Index

Last updated: 6 August 2026

Gateway 2 Approval Index

The Gateway 2 Approval Index is a London Construction Magazine intelligence tracker monitoring Building Safety Regulator decision patterns, approval rates, London case concentration, residential units affected, remediation movement, Gateway 3 emergence and operational delivery signals under the Building Safety Act regime.

The index is designed for contractors, developers, consultants, dutyholders, project managers, funders and commercial teams who need to understand how Gateway 2 performance is changing and what those changes mean for higher-risk building delivery. While many project teams focus only on whether Gateway 2 approvals are rising or falling, London Construction Magazine analysis tracks the wider operational pattern: decision volume, approval rate, London concentration, live case pressure, internal refurbishment activity, remediation throughput, new-build progress, Gateway 3 performance, major change activity and BSR resourcing.

Current Index Snapshot

Latest BSR update: 12 weeks to 1 August 2026
The Building Safety Regulator made 349 building control decisions across higher-risk building categories and approved 287 applications, producing an overall approval rate of 82%.
New higher-risk buildings and conversions reached a 91% approval rate nationally. London approved 25 of 27 projects, producing a 93% approval rate and representing 3,841 residential units.
Existing-building remediation reached 85% nationally and 92% in London, while NHS applications reached 84% nationally and 86% in London.
Approval Rate Timeline

Reporting Period Approval Rate Determinations / Units LCM Operational Interpretation
2024 Transitional Period Substantially lower initial rates Gateway 2 regime entering live statutory operation The early Gateway 2 market exposed widespread misunderstanding of evidence architecture, dutyholder coordination and design maturity requirements.
Early 2025 ~60–65% Significant proportion of applications queried or returned The industry was still adapting operationally to BR Principal Designer obligations, Golden Thread expectations and evidence sequencing standards.
Late 2025 Mid-60% range Rapid increase in Gateway 2 submissions nationally Submission quality became the dominant programme risk as development teams accelerated applications ahead of funding and procurement milestones.
1 May 2026 release 71% 323 decisions · 17,046 units determined Approval performance was improving, but live case pressure and remediation delays remained major delivery constraints.
30 May 2026 release 75% 358 decisions · 14,928 units determined · 9,499 units approved The May data showed a clear improvement in approval rate and decision throughput, with approvals rising across Gateway 2 categories while London remained the dominant case concentration.
1 July 2026 release 77% 368 Gateway 2 decisions · 284 approvals · 57% London decisions Approval performance continued to improve, with stronger remediation, new-build and early Gateway 3 indicators suggesting that process changes were beginning to produce measurable gains.
6 August 2026 update — latest release 82% 349 decisions · 287 approvals · 91% new-build approval rate The latest data provides the strongest evidence so far that BSR’s operational reset is improving outcomes. London new-build approvals reached 93%, remediation reached 92% in the capital and newer applications are generally moving faster, although programme allowances remain necessary.

Current Snapshot — 12 Weeks to 1 August 2026

Category Approval Rate Key Figure LCM Operational Interpretation
All Higher-Risk Building Categories — National 82% 349 decisions · 287 approvals The combined approval rate has risen from 77% to 82%, showing broader movement in decision-making capacity across new build, remediation, NHS and internal refurbishment work.
New Higher-Risk Buildings and Conversions 91% 45 decisions · 7,587 residential units approved · 22-week median The Innovation Unit’s current performance is substantially stronger than a year earlier, when the comparable approval rate was 39% and the median determination period was 43 weeks.
London New-Build and Conversion Decisions 93% 25 approvals from 27 decisions · 3,841 units · 23-week median London has outperformed the national new-build rate, providing a stronger confidence signal for the market carrying the largest concentration of higher-risk residential development.
New-Build and Conversion Live Pipeline — 131 live applications · 30,421 residential units The live pipeline remains large enough for Gateway 2 to continue influencing development finance, procurement sequencing and contractor mobilisation.
London Share of New-Build Live Pipeline 65% 65% of live applications · 58% of residential units under assessment BSR performance remains disproportionately important to London’s high-rise residential pipeline and associated specialist construction workloads.
Existing-Building Remediation — National 85% 110 decisions · 7,433 residential units · 330 live cases representing 28,778 units Remediation remains one of the strongest-performing categories and is materially above BSR’s minimum 65% end-of-year target.
London Existing-Building Remediation 92% London approval performance above the 85% national position The London rate improves the prospect of safety-critical work moving into delivery, although technical evidence and older cases remain important programme variables.
Legacy Remediation Cases — 13 outstanding 2024 applications · down from 42 at the start of 2026 The reduction provides evidence of backlog clearance, but older cases continue to affect headline determination periods.
Remediation Determination Time — 34-week overall median · 21-week median for applications submitted in 2026 The difference between old and newer cases shows why headline medians must be read alongside application age and submission quality.
NHS Higher-Risk Building Applications 84% 16 approvals from 19 decisions · 24-week median · 36 active cases Specialist engagement is improving outcomes, but hospital schemes remain technically complex and programme-sensitive.
London NHS Applications 86% Six approvals from seven determinations · 27-week median London’s NHS approval rate is above the national position, although determination periods remain material for live healthcare environments.
Internal Refurbishment Works 77% 166 decisions · 981 active applications · 32-week overall median Internal work remains the largest live category. Applications submitted in 2026 recorded a 16-week median, showing improvement beneath the older-case headline.
Gateway 3 72% 319 applications received · 29 determinations in the latest period · 16-week median Gateway 3 is becoming a clearer delivery constraint, but the current data remains dominated by internal works and transitional projects rather than standard new-build completions.
Fastest Gateway 3 Determination — 8 weeks The quickest determination shows what may be possible where the completed building, approved changes and Golden Thread evidence are coordinated before submission.
Major Change Requests — 181 live · 112 closed · 7-week median for new-build major changes Gateway 2 approval does not end regulatory exposure. Design changes must remain controlled, classified and documented throughout construction.
BSR Resourcing — 176 internal staff · 506 external specialists · 221 Registered Building Inspectors · 135 Structural Engineers Capacity has expanded, while 64 external specialists are now embedded within the Innovation Unit and remediation team to support integrated technical decisions.

LCM Index Reading

The latest Gateway 2 data marks a significant step in BSR operating performance. Across all higher-risk building categories, the regulator made 349 decisions and approved 287 applications during the 12 weeks to 1 August 2026, producing an overall approval rate of 82%. This is an increase from the 77% position recorded in the previous index update.

The strongest signal is not the headline figure alone, but the improvement across several technically different categories. New higher-risk buildings and conversions reached 91%, existing-building remediation reached 85%, NHS applications reached 84% and internal refurbishment reached 77%. London outperformed the national position in each category where a separate capital figure was published: 93% for new build and conversions, 92% for remediation and 86% for NHS work.

Newer applications are also moving more quickly than older cases. BSR reports a 22-week national median for non-complex new-build applications, compared with 43 weeks in the equivalent period a year earlier. Remediation applications submitted in 2026 recorded a 21-week median, internal refurbishment applications submitted in 2026 recorded 16 weeks and NHS applications submitted in 2026 recorded 13 weeks.

This does not mean Gateway 2 has become predictable or low-risk. Determination periods remain substantial, the categories perform differently and approval percentages do not show the number of clarification rounds, redesign steps or evidence gaps resolved before a decision. Project teams must still plan around application quality, design maturity, dutyholder coordination, change control and the Golden Thread.

London remains central to the national picture. The capital represents 65% of live new-build and conversion applications and 58% of the residential units under assessment. BSR performance therefore continues to influence London development finance, contractor mobilisation, procurement sequencing and specialist package release disproportionately.

What Changed in the Latest BSR Update?

The August BSR data introduces several important changes to the way the market should read Gateway 2 performance.
  • Overall approval performance across higher-risk building categories has risen from 77% to 82%.
  • New-build and conversion approvals have reached 91%, with a 22-week median determination period for non-complex cases.
  • London new-build and conversion decisions achieved a 93% approval rate, representing 3,841 residential units.
  • Existing-building remediation remained at 85% nationally and reached 92% in London.
  • Only 13 legacy remediation applications from 2024 remained outstanding, down from 42 at the start of 2026.
  • NHS work is now reported separately, with an 84% national approval rate and 86% in London.
  • Internal refurbishment remains the largest live workload, with 981 active applications.
  • Gateway 3 recorded a 72% approval rate across 29 determinations in the latest rolling period.
  • BSR resourcing has increased to 176 internal staff and 506 external specialists.

For the construction industry, the strongest message is that the operational reset is producing measurable improvement. However, better regulator performance does not replace the need for complete, coordinated and technically robust applications.

New Build: Approval Rate Reaches 91%

BSR made 45 decisions for new higher-risk buildings and conversions during the latest rolling period. The category reached a 91% approval rate, with approved schemes representing 7,587 residential units. The national median determination period for non-complex cases was 22 weeks.

The comparison with the equivalent period in 2025 is substantial. The approval rate has increased from 39% to 91%, while the median determination period has reduced from 43 weeks to 22 weeks. This points to a meaningful change in assessment structure, case ownership and multidisciplinary coordination through the Innovation Unit.

London performed above the national rate, with 25 of 27 new-build and conversion projects approved. The 93% approval rate represented 3,841 residential units, with a median determination period of 23 weeks.

There are currently 131 new-build and conversion applications in progress nationally, representing 30,421 residential units. London accounts for 65% of the live applications and 58% of the units under assessment.

Existing-Building Remediation: 85% Nationally and 92% in London

Existing-building remediation remains one of the strongest-performing Gateway 2 categories. BSR made 110 decisions during the latest period, with an 85% approval rate covering projects representing 7,433 residential units. London reached a 92% approval rate.

The number of outstanding remediation applications dating from 2024 has fallen from 42 at the start of 2026 to 13. The reduction supports the view that the external remediation plan and closer applicant engagement are clearing older cases, although those cases continue to affect reported median times.

The overall remediation median was 34 weeks, while applications submitted during 2026 recorded a 21-week median. BSR is managing 330 live remediation cases representing 28,778 residential units, meaning improvements have direct consequences for occupied buildings, residents, contractors and developers carrying finance and holding costs.

NHS Applications: Specialist Route Shows Improvement

BSR made 19 NHS determinations and approved 16 applications, producing an 84% national approval rate and a 24-week median determination period. Applications submitted during 2026 recorded a 13-week median, and some recent NHS decisions were completed within the statutory eight-week period.

London recorded six approvals from seven determinations, producing an 86% approval rate and a 27-week median. The regulator is managing 36 active NHS cases nationally.

The category remains technically demanding because fire, structural, clinical, servicing and operational requirements must often be coordinated within live healthcare environments. The latest results suggest that direct specialist engagement is improving the route through assessment.

Internal Refurbishment Remains the Largest Workload

Internal refurbishment accounted for approximately 49% of all Gateway 2 decisions in the latest dataset. BSR made 166 decisions in the category, achieving a 77% approval rate and a 32-week overall median determination period.

The overall median is affected by older cases. Applications submitted during 2026 recorded a 16-week median, half the headline period. BSR is currently managing 981 active internal-work applications.

This remains a major operational point for the market. Gateway 2 risk is not limited to new towers or major conversions. Refurbishment, fit-out, M&E, fire safety and structural alterations within existing higher-risk buildings require the same level of coordinated evidence, existing-building information and change control expected on new-build schemes.

Gateway 3: Completion-Stage Pressure Is Emerging

BSR has received 319 Gateway 3 applications, including 235 internal refurbishments, 47 transitional cases and 23 NHS internal refurbishment applications. During the latest rolling period, 29 applications were determined, producing a 72% approval rate and a 16-week median determination period. The fastest determination was completed in eight weeks.

No standard new-build project that passed through Gateway 2 has yet reached Gateway 3. The current results therefore remain dominated by internal works and transitional schemes rather than providing a complete benchmark for newly designed higher-risk buildings.

As the first major wave of Gateway 2-approved new buildings moves through construction, Gateway 3 capacity, change control and the quality of the completed Golden Thread record will become increasingly important to practical completion and occupation programmes.

Major Changes and Transitional Cases

BSR is managing 69 transitional building control cases at Gateway 2 and has received 47 transitional cases at Gateway 3. These projects can be particularly complex because inherited evidence may not meet the structural, fire and design-information standards expected under the current regime.

The regulator is also processing 181 live major change requests and has closed 112. The median closure time for new-build major changes is seven weeks. This confirms that regulatory responsibility continues after Gateway 2 approval and that construction-stage departures from the approved design must be identified, classified and controlled before affected work proceeds.

BSR Resourcing and Capacity

BSR reports 176 internal staff supporting higher-risk building control activity. This includes 100 regulatory leads, 15 principal regulatory leads, 56 case officers and five managers.

The regulator is also supported by 506 external specialists: 221 Registered Building Inspectors, 111 fire-service professionals, 135 structural engineers and 39 specialists from other disciplines. Sixty-four specialists are integrated directly into priority teams, including the Innovation Unit and external remediation team.

The important development is not only the number of specialists available but how they are deployed. Integrated fire, structural and building-control expertise can reduce sequential handovers, identify unresolved evidence earlier and improve consistency across complex decisions.

Evidence-Based Summary

Gateway 2 performance is improving materially, but application quality and programme allowances remain central.
The latest BSR update shows 349 decisions, 287 approvals and an overall approval rate of 82% across higher-risk building categories.
London reached 93% for new buildings and conversions, 92% for existing-building remediation and 86% for NHS applications.
The new-build median has reduced from 43 weeks to 22 weeks compared with the equivalent period a year earlier, while newer remediation, internal-work and NHS applications are also moving faster.
For contractors and developers, the operational conclusion remains clear: stronger BSR throughput must be matched by coordinated design evidence, competent dutyholder input, active change control and Golden Thread records built throughout delivery.
Why This Index Matters

Gateway 2 approval performance affects more than regulatory administration. It influences procurement timing, contractor mobilisation, consultant workload, client funding confidence, remediation sequencing, sales programmes and the commercial viability of higher-risk building delivery.

London is especially exposed because the capital represents 65% of live new-build and conversion applications and 58% of residential units under assessment. National approval trends are therefore also London delivery-risk indicators.

The latest BSR figures are positive. They show stronger approval outcomes, shorter determination periods for newer work, continuing remediation movement and increased specialist capacity. However, Gateway 2 remains a material pre-construction risk, and Gateway 3 is becoming a more visible pre-occupation risk.

Methodology

The Gateway 2 Approval Index uses publicly available Building Safety Regulator building control approval application data, regulator updates, BSR media statements and London Construction Magazine analysis.

The index tracks:
  • Gateway 2 decision volume;
  • overall and category-specific approval rates;
  • residential units determined and approved;
  • live case volumes;
  • London approval performance and live-pipeline concentration;
  • new-build and HRB conversion performance;
  • Innovation Unit decision activity and determination periods;
  • internal refurbishment case pressure;
  • existing-building remediation progress;
  • legacy remediation case movement;
  • NHS application performance;
  • Gateway 3 application and approval performance;
  • transitional cases and major change requests;
  • BSR staffing and external specialist support;
  • approval timing and operational delivery signals.

The index does not provide legal, design, engineering or regulatory advice. It is an editorial intelligence tracker designed to interpret public approval data and explain operational consequences for the construction sector.

Primary Sources


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Next Update

This index will be updated when new Building Safety Regulator Gateway 2 or Gateway 3 data becomes available, or when material changes affect approval performance, London case concentration, remediation throughput, internal works activity, NHS applications, major change volumes, resource capacity or live case pressure.