Journey

Gateway 2 preparation checklist

Quick readiness check before submitting your Gateway 2 application to BSR. For teams already familiar with the Building Safety Act who need a final pre-submission verification.

Construction & Property Running a Business Updated 15 September 2026
references 1 guide

Are you ready for Gateway 2?

Use this checklist to verify your application is complete before submission. Missing items are the primary cause of BSR rejection or extended determination times.

Pre-submission checklist

Confirm all items before submitting to BSR.

Dutyholders appointed

  • Principal Designer appointed in writing
  • Principal Contractor appointed in writing
  • Both have signed competence declarations

Design documentation complete

  • Fire safety strategy finalised (not draft)
  • Structural design package complete
  • Means of escape drawings
  • All building regulations addressed

Construction control plan ready

  • Change control procedures documented
  • Inspection regime defined
  • Mandatory occurrence reporting plan

Golden thread established

  • Digital information system in place
  • Design documentation uploaded
  • Version control active

Detailed Gateway 2 preparation

Full procedural guide if you need step-by-step application process

Common rejection reasons to avoid

IssuePrevention
Incomplete fire safety strategySubmit finalised strategy, not draft. Include all fire engineering justifications.
Missing dutyholder declarationsBoth Principal Designer and Principal Contractor must sign competence statements.
Piecemeal or uncoordinated designThe BSR now accepts staged applications (such as splitting groundworks from the superstructure), but the design for each stage must be complete and fully coordinated.
Insufficient change control planDocument how design changes will be managed and notified to BSR.
Golden thread not digitalPaper records insufficient. Must be accessible digital system.

Next steps

Once your checklist is complete:

  1. Submit via BSR online portal
  2. Pay Gateway 2 fees
  3. Allow the 12-week statutory determination period for new buildings (8 weeks for work to an existing higher-risk building); since the 2025 fast-track reforms most new applications are determined within or close to this
  4. Respond promptly to any BSR queries
gov.uk

BSR online services (opens in a new tab)

Submit your Gateway 2 application through the Building Safety Regulator portal