Peter Baker has been appointed as the new Chief Inspector of Buildings to establish and lead the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR) in HSE.

16 February 2021

Peter is currently our Director of Building Safety and Construction and will take up the new post to oversee the introduction of the new regime with immediate effect.

The government asked HSE to establish a new building safety regulator in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster and following recommendations in the ‘Building a Safer Future’ report by Dame Judith Hackitt.

The new regulator will oversee the safe design, construction and occupation of high-risk buildings so that residents are safe and feel safe. The BSR will be independent and evidence-led and will work with local regulators, landlords and building owners, the construction and building design industry, and residents.  The draft Bill will also give the BSR legal powers to deal with serious risks and to hold duty holders to account for failing to manage and control building safety risks.

As the newly appointed Chief Inspector of Buildings, Peter will act as the face and voice of BSR, and work to shape and lead the implementation of a new regulatory system for the safety and standard of buildings in England. He will also work to maintain public confidence in HSE and the regulatory system.

Working with other regulators including Local Authorities and the Fire & Rescue Services, he will develop approaches on working together to implement the new regulatory regime in practice. Once the BSR is established, Peter will also act as the head of profession for building control professionals to drive a culture of consistent, proportionate and targeted regulatory decision making that ensures high standards of safety and quality in buildings.

Please feel free to share this latest step forward with your colleagues, further information is available on our website as well as a link to receive regular news and updates about the Building Safety regulator.