Building Voices

This episode explores the practical realities of navigating the Building Safety Act gateway approval process from the perspective of an experienced developer.

Hosts David Turner and Victoria Adeyemi (Construction and Engineering) are joined by Seamus Keane, Development Director at Ridgeback Group Limited. Drawing on first‑hand experience of a flagship build‑to‑rent scheme in central Manchester, the discussion examines what happens when a high‑risk building falls outside transitional regulations, the pressures of submitting a gateway two application under acute time constraints, and the critical importance of getting the submission right first time.

Broader themes include the resourcing and communication challenges facing the Building Safety Regulator, the allocation of risk between developers, contractors and funding partners arising from approval delays, the industry‑wide need for earlier design coordination, and the relationship between a well‑functioning gateway process and the government’s target of delivering 1.5 million new homes. The episode also touches on recent signs of improvement at the BSR and what these developments may mean for future gateway applications.