Gateway 2: What Developers and M&Es Need to Know for High-Rise Projects

Gateway 2 is a mandatory checkpoint for higher-risk buildings to comply with the Building Safety Act. While it came into force a while ago, with the timescales involved in planning, many developers and M&Es are only now facing the challenges it brings.

What does Gateway 2 cover?

The Building Safety Act introduces stricter rules for the design and construction of new high-rise residential buildings, care homes and hospitals, which are 18 metres or more in height, or at least seven storeys. Crucially, Gateway 2 requires developers to submit detailed plans, including fire safety and structural integrity assessments, before any construction work can begin.

The technical design requirement

Gateway 2 requires a full technical design submission, which includes:

• Detailed and dimensioned substation layouts
• High- and low- voltage network diagrams
• Cable route and riser layouts

The utilities design team plays a critical role in preparing the technical information and can also assist architects, builders and developers in ensuring they are providing the right initial information to ensure the smooth running and timeliness of the whole process.

Risks of non-compliance

Failure to meet requirements can result in:

• Project delays
• Refusal of permission to construct or occupy the building
• Costly enforcement action

In short, without Gateway 2 approval, construction cannot legally progress.

How utilities companies can support

Utilities providers are directly involved in preparing the technical design information required for submission. By engaging them early, developers and M&E teams can:

• Ensure all necessary layouts and diagrams are accurate and compliant
• Avoid repeated requests for missing details
• Keep project timelines on track

In practice, this collaboration means utilities teams become an important partner in delivering a successful Gateway 2 submission.

“Many M&Es are still sketchy on the precise needs of Gateway 2 when it comes to high-rise buildings. This is not surprising as many are only now going through this process for the first time. Taking expert advice on the requirements from a utilities point of view can enable the process to progress smoothly and efficiently.”
– Neil Fitzsimons, Managing Director, Power On.

Our Gateway 2 Enabling Service

Power On works directly with developers and M&Es to ensure they have the required design aspects for fire safety fully in place and is now providing a Gateway 2 Enabling Service to assist developers and M&Es in the process. This includes a system for navigating the deliverables to ensure that all parties are aligned and that timelines will be met.

Ensuring the right information is delivered to the utilities company in the first place, in order to get the right outputs, can prove problematic and may hold up the whole process. Power On’s Enabling Service ensures the correct input and, therefore, the correct outputs. Depending on required timescales, Power On can at the Gateway 2 stage supply the entire design pack or, the individual parts of the design that are vital to the particular project to enable a fast turnaround on the essential elements.

Neil Fitzsimons concludes: “Put simply, we know what we need from the developer and M&E to enable us to efficiently provide the details to pass Gateway 2. We can make the complex simple.”

For any questions around our Gateway 2 Enabling Service, fill out our contact form or email us at [email protected].