DESIGN WORKING GROUP MEETING 24-06-2026

Meeting Summary

Date: 24 June 2026
Duration: 1 Hour 28 Minutes

Meeting Objective

The meeting focused on sharing practical lessons learned from delivering a High-Risk Building (HRB) remediation project under the Building Safety Act. Discussions covered Gateway 2 submissions, compliance documentation, design coordination, change management, as-built information, and best practices for obtaining Building Safety Regulator (BSR) approval.

Key Discussion Points

  1. HRB Remediation Project Overview

Andrew de Silva presented a live remediation project involving partial façade replacement on an occupied High-Risk Building.

The project team was responsible for:

  • Building Safety Architect
  • Acting BIM Lead
  • Principal Designer (CDM)
  • Building Safety Advisor

The presentation highlighted how Gateway 2 projects require significantly greater planning, coordination, and documentation compared with traditional construction projects.

  1. Gateway 2 Submission Strategy

A key recommendation was to treat Gateway 2 as a Building Control compliance submission rather than a full construction drawing package.

The submission should:

  • Demonstrate compliance with applicable Building Regulations.
  • Include only information relevant to the proposed building works.
  • Avoid unnecessary construction details.
  • Clearly explain how compliance has been achieved.

This approach creates a focused submission while reducing unnecessary documentation.

  1. Design Coordination with Specialist Manufacturers

The project required close collaboration with specialist manufacturers and subcontractors throughout the design process.

The design team carefully reviewed:

  • Fire certification
  • Declaration of Performance (DoP)
  • Field of Application documents
  • Product compatibility
  • Manufacturer approvals

Every construction detail was coordinated and agreed before submission to ensure that the approved design accurately reflected the intended construction.

  1. Managing As-Built Information

A significant discussion focused on defining "As-Built" information under the new Building Safety regulations.

Key conclusions included:

  • Gateway 2 drawings represent the approved design intent.
  • Any design changes during construction must follow the formal change management process.
  • Principal Contractors are responsible for confirming that the completed works comply with the approved design.
  • Designers should only update drawings based on documented and verified changes.
  • Maintaining a complete audit trail is essential for future compliance and asset management.
  1. Compliance Statement

Andrew demonstrated the structure of the Compliance Statement prepared for the Gateway 2 submission.

The document includes:

  • Description of the proposed building work.
  • Identification of applicable Building Regulations.
  • Justification for each regulation that applies.
  • Explanation of regulations that are not applicable.
  • References to supporting drawings, reports, certifications, and technical documents.

The emphasis was on answering exactly what the legislation requires rather than producing unnecessary documentation.

  1. Fire and Emergency File

Another important submission document discussed was the Fire and Emergency File.

The document explains:

  • How the proposed works affect fire spread.
  • Structural implications of the design.
  • Building safety measures introduced.
  • Impacts on occupants and accountable persons.
  • Information relevant to emergency services.

Rather than reproducing an entire Fire Strategy, the document focuses specifically on the impact of the proposed works.

  1. Working Directly from Legislation

One of the strongest recommendations was to base submissions directly on the wording of the legislation.

The team advised:

  • Read the legislation itself rather than relying only on guidance.
  • Answer the legal requirements exactly as written.
  • Clearly explain why regulations are applicable or not applicable.
  • Avoid adding unnecessary information that does not support compliance.
  1. Change Management

Participants agreed that change management remains one of the weakest areas across construction projects.

Best practices discussed included:

  • Recording every design change, regardless of size.
  • Maintaining a complete audit trail.
  • Documenting specialist contractor modifications.
  • Managing changes through the Common Data Environment (CDE).
  • Using formal approval procedures before updating drawings.
  1. Industry Experience and Lessons Learned

Participants shared practical experience from multiple Gateway 2 submissions.

Key lessons included:

  • Focus on answering the regulator's questions rather than producing excessive documentation.
  • Clearly document temporary construction arrangements for occupied buildings.
  • Anticipate foreseeable changes within the Change Control Plan.
  • Support submissions with clear evidence and references.
  • Engage specialist contractors early to improve coordination and compliance.

Best Practice Recommendations

  • Treat Gateway 2 as a compliance submission rather than a construction package.
  • Base every submission directly on legislative requirements.
  • Involve specialist manufacturers and subcontractors early.
  • Produce concise but well-supported Compliance Statements and Fire & Emergency Files.
  • Maintain strict change control procedures throughout the project.
  • Ensure as-built information accurately reflects approved changes.
  • Keep a complete audit trail throughout design and construction.
  • Continue sharing lessons learned across BIM4Housing working groups.

Key Takeaways

The meeting demonstrated that successful Gateway 2 submissions rely on clear compliance evidence, strong multidisciplinary coordination, disciplined change management, and accurate documentation rather than simply producing more drawings. Early involvement of specialist contractors, a structured compliance approach, and maintaining an auditable record throughout the project lifecycle are essential for achieving regulatory approval and improving long-term building safety.