Envelope contractor Stanmore has launched an integrated design, procurement and construction service to tackle bottlenecks under the new building safety regime.
It said the move would make it less likely that applications had to be resubmitted to the Building Safety Regulator in the wake of late-stage design changes, which have been causing delays.
Projects would be better prepared for gateway two submission if technical design consultancy, procurement services and contractor-led advice could be accessed in a single place, Stanmore said.
Under the regulator’s post-Grenfell regime, developers are required to undergo three gateway stages to gain sign-off for residential developments taller than 18 metres.
However, there have been widespread calls for a review of gateway two after a backlog of applications built up, causing high-rise development to virtually grind to a halt.
Last week, building safety minister Alex Norris acknowledged that delays to high-rise projects were being caused by difficulties in processing applications and promised to explore “all possible options” to get the regulator up to speed.
Stanmore managing director Raj Manak said that under the new regulatory framework, it was vital to integrate procurement and construction insight into the technical design stage as early as possible.
“Our ultimate aim is to make technical design seamless, efficient and effective,” he said.
“We want to reduce risk, save costs, and deliver solutions that work in practice and not just in theory.”
Under the new division, Stanmore Design House, clients will have access to RIBA technical design services at stage four and onwards, including elevation drawings, section and plan details, subframe layouts, wind-load assessments and thermal analysis.
“Stanmore will also apply its contractor expertise to the design process, ensuring all technical designs are practical and buildable,” the company said.
The technical designs service will sit alongside procurement and construction support, including the assessment of material availability, quality assurance through early factory visits, and consideration of site logistics.
“This end-to-end support will help minimise the risk of late-stage design changes that could trigger BSR resubmission and cause delays,” it said.
“The offering is designed to streamline planning, reduce risk and ensure designs are ready for real-world construction.”
Starting out as a drylining and plastering firm in 1958, Stanmore has since become one of the UK’s highest-earning envelope contractors, providing installation and design services across facade types, including brickwork, glazing, metalwork and modular.
In 2024, it headed the CN Specialists Index for envelope contractors for the second year running.