Fire Safety to Be Considered at Planning Stage for High-Rise

Measures that seek to ensure that fire safety matters are incorporated at the planning stage for high-rise residential developments have been added to the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG).

They apply to applications for planning permission made on or after 1 August 2021.

The government committed to Building a Safer Future: Proposals for Reform of the Building Safety Regulatory System to introduce planning gateway one. It was made in response to the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety led by Dame Judith Hackitt, which the government commissioned following the fire at Grenfell Tower in June 2017.

There are two key elements to planning gateway one:

To require the developer to submit a fire statement setting out fire safety considerations specific to the development with a relevant application for planning permission for development that involves one or more relevant buildings.
To establish the Health and Safety Executive as a statutory consultee for relevant planning applications.

The government said the changes are aimed at making certain that applicants and decision-makers consider planning issues relevant to fire safety. They will be considered at the earliest possible stage in the development process.

Buildings relevant to planning gateway one are those that contain two or more dwellings or educational accommodations and ones that meet the height condition of 18 meters or more in height or seven or more storeys.