Contributors
In the Spring 2026 edition of Project Safety Journal, Womble Bond Dickinson's Construction team commented on some of the trending developments in the building safety landscape.
Find our team's key takeaways below. To get the full story, download their latest edition here (subscription required).
On the role of fire engineers (and considering the recent government publications Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement and Next steps on fire engineering profession reform), Simon Lewis, Partner, said:
“The government’s commitment to regulating both the title and function of fire engineers marks a significant shift for the construction sector in terms of fire engineers' roles as well as their professional standing in the industry. The proposed changes would make the fire safety strategy a protected function of a regulated fire engineer, and fire engineers would have accredited education and supervised experience to demonstrate their competence. However, the government has more thinking to do, including around whether to expand the requirement for fire safety strategies beyond just higher‑risk buildings, and whether the new regulations would apply in England only or to the UK more widely. There will also be significant challenges to address, including around how to train and upskill fire engineers, while maintaining sufficient workforce capacity, during the transition to any new regime. A government consultation is expected later this year, so we will know about the trajectory of travel then.”
Following the government's publication Definition of higher-risk buildings: initial review and plans for ongoing review, Michelle Essen, Legal Director, commented:
"The construction industry will no doubt be very relieved to hear that there will be no change to the legal definition of "higher‑risk buildings" at this stage. The sector is still adjusting to the new regime and to determining whether buildings fall under this category or not, which can be complex in some cases. The definition may be subject to further change in the future, as it is to be kept under ongoing annual review, but the government has made it clear that any future proposals for change will be fully tested with industry before implementation.”
Regarding the move to a single construction regulator - and whether more professions should be subject to mandatory registration - according to Legal Director Deborah Robinson:
“The government is consulting on proposals for a single construction regulator that would bring together standards across buildings, construction products and construction professions. Under the plans, the new regulator would have direct oversight of testing and certification across all construction products. And the government is also considering whether more professions should be subject to mandatory registration and licensing requirements. The consultation closes in March 2026, with the government’s full response expected in the Summer. It is clear that it is going to be another year of change for the construction industry."
