Is There a Welsh Version of the Building Safety Act 2022?

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The short answer is not yet—but it’s coming.

Since the tragic events at Grenfell Tower in 2017, the UK Government has taken significant legislative steps to overhaul building safety. In England, this has already led to the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022) and the establishment of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). But in Wales, the story is evolving along a slightly different path.

While the BSA 2022 applies across both England and Wales, building regulations are devolved, and the Welsh Government is actively shaping a Welsh-specific building safety regime, grounded in the BSA but adapted to suit local needs.

🏗️ So, Is There a “Welsh BSA”?

Not in name, yet. But the Welsh Government is using its devolved powers under the BSA 2022 to create a parallel system, including:

Its own dutyholder framework
A local authority-led control regime (not the BSR)
Specific gateway requirements for higher-risk buildings
Tailored compliance, reporting, and enforcement mechanisms
A digital Golden Thread obligation for information management

These elements are being developed through Welsh secondary legislation and consultation with industry stakeholders.

📣 What’s the Latest?

The most current update is the March 2025 consultation titled:

“Consultation on the new building control regime for higher-risk buildings and wider changes to the building regulations in Wales”

This consultation sets out how Wales plans to implement key safety reforms aligned with the BSA 2022, but in a way that reflects Welsh governance, local authority delivery, and bilingual access.

The consultation covers:

New dutyholder roles, including Principal Designer (Building Regulations)
Competence and accountability requirements
Mandatory Golden Thread of building information
Gateway approval stages for HRBs (higher-risk buildings)
Change control procedures
Stop Notices and Compliance Notices for enforcement
Enhanced roles for local authorities as building control bodies
Transitional periods and Welsh language considerations

The consultation closed on 25 May 2025, with legislation expected to follow in late 2025 or early 2026.

⚖️ England vs Wales: Key Differences

Feature	England	Wales
Regulator	Building Safety Regulator (BSR)	Local Authorities (no separate regulator)
Lead legislation	Building Safety Act 2022	BSA 2022 (with devolved secondary legislation)
Gateway system	3 Gateways via BSR	3 Gateways via local authorities
Dutyholder enforcement	Regulator-led	Local authority-led
Digital Golden Thread	Mandatory	Mandatory
Language requirements	English	English and Welsh

👷 What Does This Mean for Construction Professionals?

If you’re working in Wales—or planning to—this shift matters.

The Principal Designer (Building Regulations) role will be introduced in Wales, with competency and appointment rules.
Dutyholders will need to comply with Welsh-specific procedures, including new gateway and document requirements.
Cross-border firms will need to understand both the English and Welsh regulatory models.
Welsh projects will not fall under the remit of the BSR, so local authority processes will apply instead.

🧭 How to Prepare

Now is the time to:

Review your internal procedures for compliance readiness in Wales
Update your understanding of Welsh local authority powers
Ensure you or your appointees meet the competency standards expected of new dutyholder roles
Plan for the Golden Thread and associated digital information management
Monitor publication of the final legislation later in 2025

✅ Final Thought

Wales is not abandoning the Building Safety Act—it is tailoring it. And if you work on either side of the border, understanding both systems will soon be essential.

As someone who works predominantly in England but lives in Wales, I’m keeping a close eye on how this will affect appointments, responsibilities, and enforcement. If your business operates across jurisdictions, this is the moment to get aligned.

Need help navigating the upcoming changes?
Contact me to discuss how your team can get ahead of compliance, especially when it comes to Principal Designer roles and dutyholder appointments under the new Welsh regime.