On Tuesday 17th October the Government laid the Higher-Risk Buildings (Keeping and Provision of Information etc) (England) Regulations 2023 in Parliament.
The Regulations set out what information will constitute the golden thread to be kept for occupied buildings and who the information should be shared with.
The regulations set out the golden thread information that the people responsible for an occupied higher-risk building (the accountable persons) need to keep, and what information they need to provide to others (including residents) of the building. The regulations also set out the limited exemptions to sharing the information on the basis of security, commercial confidentiality and data protection sensitivities.
These Regulations also make small amendments to the Higher-Risk Buildings (Key Building Information etc.) Regulations 2023 and the Higher-Risk Buildings (Descriptions and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations 2023. This is to clarify what part of the building an accountable person is responsible for when there are multiple accountable persons for the same higher-risk building, and to remove the exclusion of certain types of military premises.
The golden thread of information will contain the evidence and information needed to identify and manage building safety risks. The golden thread information will enable accountable persons to demonstrate they understand the building and the steps required to keep it safe. Without information about a building, including risk assessments and details of safety features and arrangements, accountable persons cannot be confident they are meeting their obligations under the Building Safety Act, or demonstrate this to others. This is the final set of regulations currently planned for the higher-risk building regime.