Single Construction Regulator – RICS consultation response

Overview

In December 2025, the government published the Single Construction Regulator Prospectus, setting out its proposals for the creation of a coherent regulatory system based around the four following outcomes:

1. Buildings and built environments are safe, high-performing and deliver a healthy, accessible, secure, and sustainable environment for occupants.
2. Companies and individuals are enabled to thrive when they operate in the interests of current and future building users.
3. Products for building are fit for their purpose and users are provided with accurate product information.
4. The building system is trusted; users have confidence the system will act to prioritise the safety and needs of occupants.
    

RICS supports the government’s ambition to create a more coherent, consistent, and risk-led regulatory system for the built environment. RICS emphasises the need for clear regulatory objectives, proportionate, right-touch oversight, and the benefits provided by embedding existing professional body regulation and expertise into any future model. RICS stresses that reforms must focus on retaining specialist knowledge in the sector whilst driving cultural change, avoiding duplication of regulation, and ensuring the entire construction ecosystem, from products to design to building management, are recognised.

RICS is a key partner for government in meeting its intentions, capable of supporting competence assurance, continuous professional development, standards setting and delivery, and disciplinary processes.

Highlights of the RICS response

• RICS supports the proposed outcomes and the ambition to create a coherent, future-fit building safety regime, but notes that outcomes must become measurable to ensure accountability, transparency, and public confidence.
• RICS is already committed to supporting professionalism and the public interest through independent professional regulation, technical standards, competence frameworks, and disciplinary oversight, which can help achieve the desired outcomes by government.
• A Designated Professional Body (DPB) model can support these outcomes by allowing trusted professional bodies to regulate roles which are not critical to life safety efficiently, proportionately, and without duplicating statutory oversight.
• A successful regulatory system requires clear regulatory objectives, a well-defined risk-based model, adequate resourcing (for example, avoiding delays seen with the Building Safety Regulator in processing applications), and careful transition management. Key risks include duplication, overextension of statutory regulation, and potential loss of skilled professionals during reforms.
• RICS supports opportunities for any future regulatory framework to explore digital standards across the sector, including the building passports/logbooks aligned with the Golden Thread and greater data-sharing between regulators, governments, professional bodies and relevant organisations on safety risks and complaints.
• For the Single Construction Regulator to best support residents, it will need clearly signposted rights, redress routes, and safety responsibilities, along with whistleblowing channels.
• Cultural change will not be driven by regulation and sanctions alone. It will require a coordinated systems approach across industry, regulators, clients, and professional bodies to deliver and uphold relevant competencies, ethics and discipline.
   

Conclusion

RICS strongly supports the government’s intention to build a coherent regulatory system centred on safety, competence, and public confidence. The response emphasises the value of harnessing existing professional regulation, ensuring proportionality in statutory oversight, and embedding a culture of safety across those individuals and firms working in the built environment. A successful model will depend on clarity, collaboration, and consistent data sharing, underpinned by well-resourced regulatory implementation.