Reform, Responsibility, and Resilience: Highlights from the ASFP London Seminar

The ASFP London Seminar delivered a day of critical insights and practical strategies aimed at strengthening building safety in a post-Grenfell landscape. With a focus on regulatory reform, passive fire protection, legal responsibility, and conflict avoidance, the event brought together leaders from across the built environment to share knowledge and champion systemic change.

Neil Hope-Collins opened the day with a comprehensive update on the progress of the Building Safety Regulator, now one year into its role as the Building Control Authority for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs). Drawing from over 2,000 applications, Neil illuminated key compliance trends while addressing systemic issues such as poor application quality, lack of coordination across multidisciplinary teams, and digital process delays. He issued a clear call for increased industry engagement and shared learning to help drive up standards across the sector.

Representing the Architectural Technical Leads Group, John Heaney offered a practical look into the responsibilities of the Building Regulations Principal Designer (BRPD). Drawing on his experience at ECD Architects, John unpacked the challenges in demonstrating competence, managing compliance, and fulfilling new regulatory duties. His session highlighted the urgent need for scenario-based training, collaborative design workflows, and clearly defined client responsibilities under SI 2023/911.

Will Pitt of Laing O'Rourke addressed the mounting challenges at Gateway 2 for HRBs, particularly in the realm of passive fire protection. Will pointed to misaligned design responsibilities, compressed project timelines, and the all-too-common late consideration of fire safety. His message was a strong call to action: the Building Safety Act must serve as a catalyst for earlier, more integrated collaboration between design, engineering, and construction teams.

Legal risk took center stage as Tim Hillier, Partner at Trowers & Hamlins, guided attendees through the evolving responsibilities of dutyholders. In the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, Tim dissected the intersections of CDM and Building Regulations, providing real-world examples of contractual and regulatory risk for clients, principal designers, and contractors alike. His insights proved essential for professionals navigating the legal terrain of today’s complex construction landscape.

Louise Barr, Deputy Director at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), introduced the Construction Products Reform Green Paper. She outlined the UK government’s full commitment to enacting every recommendation from the Grenfell Inquiry, signalling sweeping reforms in product safety, accountability, and innovation. Her update carried weight for manufacturers, specifiers, and regulators seeking clarity on future expectations.

Closing the seminar, Martin Burns, Head of ADR Research and Development at RICS, made a compelling case for conflict avoidance and early intervention in construction. Backed by powerful international statistics and domestic case studies, Martin promoted wider adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) strategies, including adjudication, mediation, and the Conflict Avoidance Pledge (CAP). His core message resonated: unresolved disputes don’t just escalate costs — they erode trust, collaboration, and reputations.

The ASFP London Seminar reinforced the sector’s collective drive to embrace reform, enhance competence, and foster cooperation at every stage of the construction process. As the industry continues to adapt and evolve, events like these serve as vital platforms for shared learning and meaningful progress.