The government has announced a £70m funding package to tackle shortages in key building safety professions and support its target of delivering 1.5m new homes.

The investment is aimed at strengthening the building control and fire engineering workforces, both of which are facing significant shortages of qualified professionals. These gaps have not only constrained housing supply but were also identified as a major concern in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

Under the plan, the number of Registered Building Inspectors (RBIs) is expected to increase by up to 700. This includes inspectors qualified at Class 3H level, who are authorised to assess High-Risk Buildings. The funding will also expand the number of fire engineers and improve access to fire engineering education.

The three-year programme follows recommendations from the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee, which called for greater capacity in building control and fire engineering. Both the Fire Engineers Advisory Panel and evidence submitted to the Building Control Independent Panel have also stressed the need for more highly trained professionals in safety-critical roles.

A lack of qualified specialists across the built environment was further highlighted during the Grenfell inquiry, which made several recommendations relating to building control and fire engineering.

Of the total funding, £55 million has been allocated to building control and £15m to fire engineering.

In building control, the funding will support local authorities in England to recruit new RBIs and train them to Class 2 standard. It will also be used to upskill existing inspectors, with many expected to reach Class 3H level, enabling them to work on High-Risk Buildings. Additional support will be provided for training new entrants working with both Registered Building Control Approvers and local authorities.

In fire engineering, the funding will focus on expanding higher education provision. This includes postgraduate bursaries, as well as increased investment in research and academic development.

Details on how organisations can apply for the funding are still being finalised, with further information expected in the coming months.

The minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy, Samantha Dixon, said: “We’re boosting the building safety workforce to get more skilled building inspectors and fire engineers into the system quickly to keep people safe and unlock the new homes this country needs.

“This is a vital step in building 1.5 million safe homes and ensuring we continue to deliver on lessons from the Grenfell Tower tragedy.”