Interoperable digital services will be key for future UK single construction regulator
The UK Government response to a consultation on the single construction regulator has accepted all the key points made by industry respondents, including nima, about the critical need for interoperability of information and clear data standards.
In its July 2026 response to the consultation on the single construction regulator (SCR) prospectus, the UK Government (via the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) has confirmed its vision and ambition for the SCR and outlined how it intends to deliver the SCR. Nima was among 184 organisations and individuals who responded to the consultation, saying (in March 2026) that whole life thinking, interoperability of information, and consistent information and data requirements are key areas for the SCR. The UK Government accepts all these points.
Digital, data and efficient regulatory delivery
The Government response document devotes a chapter to digital, data and efficient regulatory delivery. Regulatory services were reported by respondents as having “low interoperability with established project information models used by industry such as Common Data Environments (CDEs), Building Information Modelling (BIM) workflows and asset management systems.” The document continues:
“Multiple respondents agreed that data standards should be mandated by the regulator and that standards must be open, aligned with established digital construction frameworks such as BIM and international standards such as ISO-based information management. Interoperability of digital services should be embedded from the outset.”
Government commits to interoperability
The government acknowledges that information and interoperability are needed to support outcomes, saying (s.3.3):
“the SCR will only be effective if it can rely on findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) information across the whole building lifecycle. Interoperable digital services will therefore form a core part of the SCR’s operating model. They will enable information to be captured once and used in multiple ways: to support regulatory decisions, to reduce unnecessary duplication for users, to strengthen coordination across the system, and to provide a clearer evidence base for assessing whether regulation is working as intended.”
It recognises that industry must play its part in creating a regulatory system built on FAIR information, recommending:
“that all actors across the sector consider where they can actively embed the principles recommended in responses to this consultation, building on the ‘golden thread’ principles required by Building Safety Act. In particular:
– adopting consistent, standards-based information practices
– upskilling teams in digital and data capabilities
– developing strong governance regarding trustworthy, secure and interoperable data.”
Nima notes a strong alignment between these recommendations and the principles set out in the Information Management Initiative, launched by nima and the Construction Leadership Council in November 2024.
To help the indstry move forward, the Government plans to publish an overarching strategy for the built environment professions, trades and occupations in spring 2027. In the meantime, it has published a call for evidence to inform future policy on those working in the built environment professions, trade and occupations (see nima news, May 2026). This consultation highlights digital capablity is a cross-cutting issue. The deadline for responses is 12 August 2026.
- See also 15 July 2026 DCplus article: Single construction regulator will be committed to interoperability
