In April 2025, Annie was joined by three brilliant experts in construction and law to examine the Building Safety Act.
David Sawtell, 39 Essex Chambers
David specialises in major construction, infrastructure, PFI, and property disputes. An expert in building safety cases, he has acted in some landmark cases. His work often has an international scope, involving complex arbitration and multi-jurisdictional matters. Combining academic insight with a practical approach, David is known for his strong advocacy and client-friendly manner. David is regularly involved in large-scale, legally complex adjudications. He is often instructed in legally complicated adjudication enforcement actions.
Josh Waterman, Building Safety Act Consult
Josh is former Project Director, he worked at Turner & Townsend for 10 years. He has experience in a variety of industries including health, science, education and mixed-use real estate. Josh spent 7 years in the project leadership team for the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station, working closely with the design teams and Building Control team to reach compliance with the Building Control and fire compliance requirements. He then set up his own consultancy Building Safety Act Consult who help clients navigate the building safety act.
Sanjiv Sangha, United Living
An architect by training, Sanjiv qualified in 2008 before working for some of the UK’s leading architectural practices. More recently her career has focused on working as a technical lead for a number of housing associations. She is also a volunteer with Action for Race equality and has been described by her peers as “thorough, organised and hard working and also a pleasure to work with”.
Over the last three years, the construction industry has been grappling with the requirements of the Building Safety Act 2022. New projects are facing delays navigating approval through gateways 2 and 3 and as cases are making their way through the courts, guidance and advice is evolving.
What Impact Has The BSA Had On The Construction Industry in The Last 2 Years?
There’s been a massive change and the industry is still trying to adjust. A major focus area at the moment is Gateway 2, particularly in relation to high-rise residential buildings. Not much has changed, regarding the principles of compliance, such as safety, quality assurance, and adherence to building regulations. But what has changed is the process of demonstrating how and why you are compliant.
The changes in the Building Safety Act have highlighted a potential skills gap in the industry. Many are discovering that, although they understand the technical requirements, they are less equipped to formally document and justify their compliance in a way that meets the Gateway 2 approval process.
The panel agreed that it is no longer enough to be compliant, you have to clearly demonstrate how you are compliant, with clear evidence. This requires a more in depth process, better record-keeping, and a more collaborative approach between disciplines to ensure that all aspects of a project are well-documented from the start.
What Are the Challenges, What Practical Steps Can We Take to Keep Projects moving?
Submit a good and clear application and provide the correct level of information, ensuring you’ve addressed all of the requirements. Review your programme of works and bring it together in one application instead of submitting applications separately. This makes it easier for the Building Safety Regulator to assess the project as a whole and reduces the risk of delays or rejections due to missing or inconsistent information.
Ultimately, the approach should be pragmatic and considered. The goal is not just to secure approval, but to do so in a way that ensures confidence in the project’s compliance, coordination, and long-term safety strategy.
A big thank you to all our speakers, and do tune into the next episode of ConstructionCast which will coming very soon!