Gateway 3 and the Future of Higher Risk Building Compliance
Gateway 3 has become one of the most significant stages in the delivery of Higher Risk Buildings (HRBs) under the Building Safety Act. It is the final point of approval before a building can be occupied, and it demands absolute confidence in the quality, safety, and compliance of the finished project.
Developers, investors, and contractors now see Gateway 3 as more than a regulatory hurdle. It stands as a safeguard for residents and a measure of how well a scheme has been designed, coordinated, and built. At RG Group, it also represents a test of our role as main contractor: bringing together evidence from every stage of delivery to prove that a project is ready for occupation, not just complete on paper.
Understanding Gateway 3
The Building Safety Act introduced three formal gateways to tighten oversight of Higher Risk Buildings. Gateway 3 is the final stage of that process. It takes place at the end of construction, when the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requires proof that the building has been delivered exactly as approved.
At this point, design intent must match the as-built record. Fire safety, structural performance, and building systems all need to be demonstrated as compliant. If anything falls short, the HSE will not issue approval, and the building cannot legally be occupied.
This makes Gateway 3 fundamentally different from the traditional handover process. It isn’t enough to simply complete construction and provide O&M manuals. The regulator must see clear evidence that safety has been achieved, and that evidence must be traceable through the “golden thread” of information stretching back to Gateway 2 and beyond.
Why Gateway 3 Has Changed the Delivery Landscape
For years, building control sign-off was often treated as an administrative step at the end of a project. Gateway 3 has raised the stakes. Without approval, rental income is delayed, investors face uncertainty, and operators cannot move residents in.
That shift has forced contractors to rethink delivery. Gateway 3 cannot be achieved with a last-minute scramble for paperwork. It demands a systematic approach throughout design and construction. For RG Group, this has meant embedding new processes into our projects: strengthening record-keeping, aligning the supply chain, and planning compliance into every build programme.
The result is a culture where evidence matters as much as execution. Every fire-stopping detail, every product substitution, every commissioning test must be logged, validated, and available to prove compliance when the regulator reviews the scheme.
The Contractor’s Responsibility
While Gateway 3 is a regulatory requirement, responsibility for achieving it rests heavily on the contractor. Developers depend on their delivery partner to collate, verify, and present the evidence. Investors rely on the contractor to manage compliance in a way that protects programme certainty.
At RG Group, we see this as a natural extension of our role. We already manage the complexity of large-scale residential projects, from PBSA to Build to Rent. Incorporating Gateway 3 means expanding that responsibility to include the evidence trail that regulators now demand.
This includes:
- Collating as-built records in structured, digital formats.
- Coordinating testing and commissioning across multiple systems.
- Verifying that site work matches design approvals.
- Managing communication with the HSE and responding to queries.
By taking ownership of these areas, we reduce risk for clients and ensure that Gateway 3 doesn’t become a bottleneck at the end of a scheme.
Risks of Getting It Wrong
The consequences of failing Gateway 3 are significant. A project may be physically complete but remain empty because the regulator has not granted approval. That can disrupt funding agreements, delay operational income, and erode confidence among investors and operators.
Remedial works after completion are even more damaging. They can involve revisiting concealed areas of the building, replacing systems, or re-testing elements at significant cost. Beyond the financial implications, there is also reputational risk. In a competitive market, developers and investors are unlikely to tolerate repeated failures at Gateway 3.
This is why proactive contractors are building Gateway 3 compliance into their delivery model from the outset. For RG Group, success means our clients never reach the end of a project only to discover that regulatory approval is uncertain.
Embedding Compliance into Delivery
Meeting Gateway 3 requirements is not about producing a box of documents at the end of a job. It is about embedding compliance into the way projects are delivered from day one.
At RG Group, we start by aligning design teams, consultants, and supply chain partners around Gateway obligations at pre-construction stage. We make clear that evidence capture is part of every trade package. Site teams then verify installation against approvals before work progresses, with digital systems used to store records in real time.
This approach creates a continuous thread of information, from initial design decisions through to completed construction. By the time a project reaches Gateway 3, the evidence is already in place: collated, traceable, and ready for submission.
Lessons from Live Projects
RG Group has already applied these processes to Higher Risk Buildings across our PBSA and Build to Rent portfolios. In practice, this has meant thousands of as-built photographs logged and tagged, commissioning certificates collected in digital formats, and materials tracked from specification to installation.
On recent projects, this preparation has allowed us to achieve Gateway 3 without costly delays. Final approval was secured in line with completion, meaning clients could move residents in and begin operations as planned. These lessons underline the importance of treating compliance as a live responsibility, not a retrospective task.
Gateway 3 as a Cultural Shift
The introduction of Gateway 3 is more than just a regulatory adjustment. It is part of a wider cultural shift in the industry, one where safety, accountability, and transparency are embedded in every stage of delivery. For contractors, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity.
The challenge lies in managing more complex evidence requirements and ensuring that the supply chain adapts. The opportunity lies in building trust with developers and investors by demonstrating robust compliance and seamless delivery.
For RG Group, embracing Gateway 3 is not about doing the minimum to achieve sign-off. It is about raising standards, protecting our clients’ investments, and safeguarding the future residents who will live in the spaces we create.
Gateway 3 with RG Group
Gateway 3 has redefined what successful project completion looks like for Higher Risk Buildings. Approval is now as much about evidence as it is about construction. For developers, that means choosing a contractor who can deliver complex schemes while managing compliance seamlessly from start to finish.
At RG Group, we combine design coordination, supply chain accountability, and digital record-keeping to secure Gateway 3 approval without unnecessary risk or delay. The result is straightforward: projects that are ready for safe occupation, backed by full regulatory confidence.If you’re preparing a Higher Risk Building and want a contractor with proven Gateway 3 expertise, get in touch with RG Group to discuss your project.
