Latest data shows a rising backlog of projects snared up in the lengthy process, with applications flooding in faster than BSR teams can process them.

For the first time, officials have admitted it now takes an average of 36 weeks to secure gateway approval on new build projects – three times longer than the original 12-week target and longer than the 19 weeks average at the end of 2024.

The figures, covering activity from late 2023 to early 2025, show 2,108 total applications submitted, but just 338 have received approval.

Of the 193 new build high-risk building applications lodged since the system launched, just 15 (8%) have successfully navigated the approval gateway.

Major cladding remediation schemes for existing buildings have not fared much better, with only 28 (12%) of 236 jobs cleared.

Projects falling into the “other fire safety works” category – including new floors or more minor fire safety alterations – saw a slightly better 18% success rate, with 295 jobs approved from 1,679 submitted.

That means billions of pounds worth of high-rise new builds and recladding schemes are effectively stuck in limbo.

BSR’s active caseload has now soared to 1,019 schemes at the end of March 2025 – up a third from the end of last year as new submissions keep piling in.

In a statement accompanying the figures, the HSE said: “We acknowledge there are delays in processing applications and we continue to introduce improvements.

“Recent recruitment activity is having a positive impact on productivity with the number of decisions doubling (month on month) overall since March.

“Significantly, the number of decisions made are now exceeding new applications received.

“Dedicated teams are now in place to process new-build and remediation applications, and we are introducing a new Innovation Unit which will focus on fast tracking new-build applications through the system.”

Two weeks ago the government stepped in to take direct control of the Building Safety Regulator in a shake-up aimed at unblocking high-rise housing delays and restoring industry confidence.

Responsibility for the regulator is being stripped from the Health and Safety Executive and handed to a new arm’s length agency under the housing ministry.

This will be run by two former London Fire Brigade commissioners.

New Innovation and Remediation Enforcement Units are being set up to fast-track the process for around 30,000 new homes in high-rise buildings BSR has received building control applications for.

More than 100 new staff will also be recruited to bolster the regulator’s capacity, with in-house engineers and building inspectors helping to clear the backlog of stalled applications.

One developer told the Enquirer: “We obviously welcome the planned changes to speed up the process. But there is a nagging feeling the transition may introduce yet more delay in the short term, which the industry can ill afford.”