The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has appointed Gill Kernick, an Arup director and former resident of Grenfell Tower, to chair its residents’ panel. The appointment marks a further step in placing residents’ perspectives at the heart of the UK’s building safety framework.
Putting Residents at the Centre of Building Safety
Created under the Building Safety Act, the residents’ panel was established to ensure that the experiences and views of residents help inform the BSR’s work. Kernick’s appointment demonstrates an ongoing commitment to learning lessons from past events, including the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and using those lessons to strengthen safety standards across the sector.
Kernick’s Experience and Priorities
Having lived in Grenfell Tower between 2011 and 2014, Kernick brings first-hand insight alongside extensive professional experience in safety culture and organisational change. She has highlighted the value of combining residents’ lived experiences with technical and professional expertise to help shape safer homes and communities. Her appointment is expected to provide the regulator with a perspective that balances practical resident concerns with broader building safety objectives.
BSR’s Regulatory Focus
A key priority for the BSR is to ensure that the building safety regime remains effective, proportionate and centred on resident protection. Acting chief executive Charlie Pugsley underlined the importance of resident involvement, saying that their experiences are critical in creating a regulatory system focused on the people it is designed to serve and protect.
Leadership Changes Within the Regulator
Alongside Kernick’s appointment, the BSR is continuing its search for a successor to Andy Roe as chair. The position will play an important role in shaping the future direction of building safety regulation and maintaining public trust in the system. The incoming chair will work closely with Kernick to support the regulator’s mission of raising standards and safeguarding residents across the built environment.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner also stressed the significance of the appointment, noting its role in reinforcing public confidence and ensuring the regulator remains focused on its core purpose.
Key Considerations for Fire Safety Professionals
- Engage with residents and incorporate their experiences into fire and building safety strategies.
- Keep up to date with developments in building safety regulation and leadership changes.
- Assess how wider cultural and systemic changes may influence existing safety practices and procedures.
