🚫 Policy Burden

Tuesday 11th November 2025

Dual Staircase Rule Scraps Major Projects—Safety vs. Viability

A major regeneration project in West London being scrapped due to viability issues was widely reported on November 14, 2025, with the need to include a second staircase cited as the primary obstacle. This echoes the sentiment we felt across North London boroughs.

Although the nationwide mandate for two staircases in high-rise buildings (over 18m) took effect in September 2026, the Mayor of London's policy stance meant most North London boroughs were already enforcing it at the planning stage in 2024 and 2025. Adding a second staircase consumes valuable floor area, reducing the number of saleable flats and making marginal sites unviable due to the subsequent loss of revenue needed to cover affordable housing quotas and infrastructure contributions. It's a critical safety measure, but one that has had a devastating, immediate impact on overall housing delivery in the capital.

Robbins Construction Ltd Opinion: Safety is paramount, but policy must be designed with viability in mind. Policy changes should be accompanied by adjusted viability assessments or targeted government grants for the fire safety elements, ensuring that safety upgrades don't inadvertently kill the supply of new homes entirely.