With immediate effect, Peter Baker the current HSE Director of Building Safety and Construction will become Chief Inspector of Buildings.
In announcing the role the HSE said, “In his role as the Chief Inspector of Buildings, Peter Baker will head up the Building Safety Regulator to deliver the new regime for high risk buildings, oversee work to increase competence of all professionals working on buildings and ensure effective oversight of the entire building safety environment. Peter will also be the first head of the building control profession, and lead the work to provide independent, expert advice to industry, government, landlords and residents on building safety.”
Lord Greenhalgh, Minister for Building Safety, was also quoted in the announcement saying,“I welcome the appointment of Peter Baker as the first national Chief Inspector of Buildings. Peter will use his and HSE’s wealth of experience to implement a tougher regulatory regime. I look forward to working with Peter and his team to ramp up engagement with residents and the sector as part of the biggest changes to building safety in a generation, backed by our £5 billion investment to fully fund the cost of replacing unsafe cladding for all leaseholders in residential buildings 18 metres (6 storeys) and over in England. We have a comprehensive plan to remove unsafe cladding, support leaseholders, restore confidence to this part of the housing market and ensure this situation never arises again.”
With the initial focus likely to be on the implementation of the new Fire Safety Bill, post COVID-19 future expansion to cover other areas of compliance including Legionella and asbestos will undoubtedly follow.