A new role to make sure that work from planning to completion has been properly undertaken on new buildings could be a direct consequence of the Hackitt report, according to Arcadis partner Simon Rawlinson.

In her review of building regulations and fire safety, published last month following last year’s Grenfell Tower fire, Dame Judith Hackitt recommended setting up a new Joint Competent Authority (JCA) to be made up of Local Authority Building Control, fire and rescue authorities and the Health and Safety Executive.

The JCA would be responsible for the sign-off of high-risk residential buildings at three different stages, enforcing building standards and sanctioning rule-breakers.

“If companies can take measures to protect people while working, they can do the same to ensure a building is built to be safe”

Simon Rawlinson, Arcadis

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