The Health and Safety Executive described the move as a partial retirement.

White will step down from his role as Director of Building Safety but continue in his other role as the Chief Inspector of Buildings at the Health and Safety Executive.

The HSE said it was now searching for a replacement to take up the critical industry role.

He is the second chief Building Safety Regulator to retire following first BSR chief Peter Baker who suddenly announced his retirement just days after the launch of its new regulatory regime in April 2023.

White step downs at a challenging time for the industry with developers and contractors warning the new Building Safety Regime has become the most significant block to progressing housing in city areas.

According to fresh figures provided through a Freedom of Information request from cost consultant and project manager Cast just 10.8% of Gateway 2 new project applications have been approved to date.

Just 20 new project applications out of 187 submitted have gained approval over a pivotal period characterised with long assessment delays and shortages of suitably qualified assessors.

Fees on average for these approved gateway 2 projects averaged at around £28,000, the highest costing just over £83,000 after 550 hours of assessment, according to Cast’s calculations.

A spokesman for the HSE said: “Philip White has served as interim Director of Building Safety at the Building Safety Regulatorsince December 2023.

“Mr White’s decision to only partially retire means that BSR will continue to benefit from his extensive experience as it enters its second year of operation.

“The BSR is in the process of recruiting a permanent Director of Building Safety. We look forward to working with his replacement on improving building safety and delivering safe and secure homes for residents.”