Leviat Leads Response to Gateway 2 Challenges

The introduction of the new Gateway regime in October 2023 marked a fundamental shift in the construction process for High Risk Buildings in England, introducing stringent new requirements for pre-construction approval of technical designs and safety plans. Whilst the new requirement for rigorous evidence-based compliance data ‘up-front’ has had a transformative impact on the building products sector in general, companies like Leviat, that have been providing this evidence as standard for many years, have been able to adapt quickly. 

Leviat leading the way 

For Leviat, the new Gateway 2 simply meant shifting the weighting to put more emphasis on front-end design work and adding some additional services. “Because much of the new detail needed, we had already produced as standard for many years”, says Mick Beresford, Design Services Manager at Leviat, “we were able to make the adjustments needed very quickly, and went on to successfully complete out first Gateway 2/3 project just over 6 months later in mid-2024. 

“Our work in engineered support solutions, especially when it comes to fire safety and structural integrity, puts us in a strong position to meet the new safety requirements. We’ve kept our approach simple; stay close to the people who know this stuff best. By working openly with industry partners, regulators, and others across the sector, we’ve now become one of the first manufacturers to be fully ‘Gateway 2 ready’. We’re pretty proud of that.”

40 projects and counting

Today, Leviat is supporting 40 key HRB projects across the country, with recent notable additions including Well Meadow Street, a high rise residential development of 158 build-to-rent apartments in Sheffield’s former industrial east side; 54-58 Dudden Hill Lane, a high rise development set to deliver 301 new homes in Willesden; a 24-storey residential tower development of build-to-rent homes on the south bank of the river Thames in Battersea; and a new high rise residential development at Silvertown, alongside the Royal Victoria Dock in East London. 

They are also now playing a key supporting role in the first phase of Acton Town’s pioneering Bollo Lane Development, which is set to deliver 195 much needed affordable and private sale homes to this area of west London.

”We are ensuring that every project we work on is supported by secure, reliable procedures and comprehensive calculations and details precisely aligned with the requirements of the new Building Safety Act. Importantly, the calculations and details we supply are presented in the format demanded by the Gateway process – which is essential to minimise delays in approval.

“As regulations continue to evolve, Leviat remains committed to leading the way – providing assurance and expertise to architects and contractors in every aspect of connecting, fixing and anchoring building systems in high rise and high risk buildings to the highest possible standards of fire and structural safety.”