The Government’s Annual Report 2026 on its response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report

The Government published its first Annual Report on its response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 (the “Report”) in February 2026.

The Government’s response is discussed in our earlier update The Government Responds to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Final Report. We have also since commented on the Government’s Second Progress Report and Third Progress Report.

The Report sets out in greater detail the Government’s progress in implementing the Inquiry’s 58 recommendations (the “Recommendations”), 49 of which were accepted in full and nine in principle. As of February 2026, 12 Recommendations have been formally discharged, including two from Phase 1.

Below we summarise key points in the Report as well as a number of changes brought in by the Government since publication of the Report.

Residents at the Heart of the System

While the Inquiry did not make specific recommendations about residents, the Government has taken steps to support residents’ engagement with landlords and to provide residents a platform at a national level. The Report also summarises regulatory reform and steps taken to strengthen the role of the Housing Ombudsman.

Construction Products System Reform

The Government set out its vision for long-term construction products reform in its Construction Products Reform White Paper, published alongside the Report. The corresponding consultation is now open, with secondary legislation to be brought forward later this year and primary legislation to follow when parliamentary time allows.

Proposed reforms include a general safety requirement to bring currently unregulated products into the regulatory regime, a new licensing regime for all testing and certification bodies, digitisation to support product selection, installation and traceability, and consolidating the national construction products regulator’s position.

Clear standards and expectations

The current definition of higher-risk building (“HRB”) was found to continue to capture the buildings presenting the greatest potential for catastrophic harm.  Therefore, it is the Government’s position that the definition of an HRB remains suitable at this time; however, the Building Safety Regulator (“BSR”) will undertake annual reviews.

The BSR continues to progress its fundamental review of guidance to the Building Regulations and has since the date of the Report published its strategic plan 2026 to 2027.

In parallel, Approved Document B (“ADB”) (the statutory fire safety guidance within the Building Regulations) is under review. Public consultation on ADB was to take place in autumn 2025 but will now be launched in the summer to allow for further engagement and ministerial consideration.

Competent professionals and trades

The Government has taken steps to raise competence and capability across the built environment, particularly in the key professions involved in assuring building safety.

• New social housing competence standards are to come into force in October 2026, with a three-year transition period for qualifications.
• The Building Control Independent Panel, chaired by Dame Judith Hackitt, is reviewing responses to its problem statement and accompanying call for evidence and will provide a report this year. The Government will consider the report and issue a formal response.
• In response to the Fire Engineers’ Advisory Panel’s authoritative statement defining core competencies for fire engineers, the Government will establish a transitional board to support MHCLG with the development of a regulatory framework and competency standards.
• The Government is to introduce mandatory accreditation for fire risk assessors. A consultation will be launched by the end of May 2026, with primary legislation introduced once parliamentary time allows.
• Subject to ministerial agreement, the Government intends to launch a green paper consultation on the college of fire and rescue by May 2026.
• A new licensing system for principal contractors allowed to oversee work on HRBs is in development. The Government is also considering a new requirement for senior leaders in construction companies to personally sign a statement confirming they have taken all reasonable steps to ensure upon completion the building complies with Building Regulations. The Government is undertaking a call for evidence in late spring 2026 on greater senior‑level accountability within principal designer and principal contractor organisations.
• A report on the Government’s review of dutyholder regimes is due in autumn 2026.

The Government is also investing in expanding workforce capacity where demand has increased, including:

• a commitment of £625m for construction skills to recruit an additional 60,000 construction workers by 2028 to 2029; and
• securing a training supplier to support the upskilling of façade installers and site supervisors and adding cladders to the immigration salary list.

Clear accountability and effective enforcement

Various measures have been implemented to strengthen accountability for building safety.

• Fire safety functions have been brought together with building safety and emergency response under MHCLG.
• To consolidate the BSR’s position as the foundation of a future single regulator, the BSR was established as its own legal entity, moving from the Health and Safety Executive to an arm’s-length body under MHCLG on 27 January 2026. The closed on 20 March 2026 with responses to be published in the summer.
• The Interim Chief Construction Advisor’s term is to end in September 2026 with the process to recruit a permanent replacement underway.
• The Government is also seeking to strengthen accountability of social housing landlords, with new transparency requirements and review of delegated management.

The Report details progress made in remediating historic unsafe cladding, including data for enrolment in Government-funded schemes and participation in the Developers Remediation Contract. To continue to drive forward remediation, when parliamentary time allows, new primary legislation is to be introduced and will set out the following remediation backstops:

• by the end of 2029, any landlord who has failed to remediate a building over 18 metres – without reasonable excuse – will face criminal prosecution, with unlimited fines and/or imprisonment;
• 2031 will mark the natural end date for completion of works on buildings between 11 and 18 metres.

To reduce risk to life and interim costs, a new fund was launched in April 2026. In relation to fire alarms: see Government launches new Interim Measures Alarm Fund.

The Building Safety Levy will start being charged on certain building control applications from 1 October 2026. To assist with the transition, the Government has published guidance and is engaging with the sector.

The Government has also taken steps to increase enforcement capacity, with more inspections, formal notices and the creation of a Remediation Enforcement Unit enabling direct intervention in the highest risk buildings.

Debarment action against construction product manufacturers was paused on 10 July 2025 at the request of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police, concerned about the impact on any criminal investigations and future criminal proceedings. Debarment investigations may be resumed in the future.

Cultural change and oversight of recommendations

Measures to bring about systemic change include the Public Office (Accountability) Bill which introduces a legal duty of candour for public officials, with criminal sanctions for cover-ups. The Government continues to engage with industry on to how to bring about and maintain cultural change.

The Government anticipates approximately 70% of the Recommendations will have been implemented by the end of 2026, at which point the Government will review its reporting arrangements.

Delivering together

The Government published revised guidance on supporting vulnerable residents and updated expectations for local authorities’ statutory duties. The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 mandate Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for vulnerable residents in high-rise buildings, with guidance and funding for implementation.

The Government is also taking steps to improve the culture within fire and rescue services and to bring about wider reform.

The building safety landscape has changed dramatically and continues to evolve. The Report highlights the full extent and complexity of that change. While several Recommendations are now completed, many are in progress, with timelines for consultations, legislation, and implementation extending into 2029; it is therefore useful to have an understanding of work going on behind the scenes and anticipated time frames for future change. We will continue to review and report on relevant updates.

If you have questions about the Building Safety Act and/or building safety issues, please contact Zoë Deckker, Brenna Baye or any other member of our Building Safety and Cladding Team.