How digital should the single construction regulator be?

​​The Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s first recommendation in its Phase 2 report was for the government to create a single regulator that draws together functions relating to the construction industry. 

In its just-launched prospectus, the MHCLG states that it wants the single construction regulator to take a “digital-first approach to improve how regulation is connected and delivered across buildings, products and professionals”. The approach “will focus on developing a more connected and coherent digital environment that supports better information sharing, reducing duplication and fragmentation, and enabling more transparent oversight”.

Furthermore, the single construction regulator prospectus states: “Central to the new regulator being digital-first is designing information management systems to unify and integrate the regulation of buildings, professions and products. The underpinning services will provide the regulator with information from users, bringing together fragmented regulations into an interoperable and transparent process.

“This would require the consolidation and streamlining of existing digital services and regulation into a new common information architecture, linking information such as building control records, professional accreditations and product information. Through this digital-first approach, the new regulator could reduce the administrative burden on industry, deliver faster, data-informed decisions and better address systemic failures. Delivering this approach will require incremental development, starting with core data and services, and expanding to cover comprehensive regulatory functions.”

The MHCLG’s consultation asks the following questions: