Bouygues Clears Building Safety Hurdle for 295 Tustin Estate Homes

The Building Safety Regulator has approved the second phase of Bouygues UK's Tustin Estate regeneration in south London, unlocking 295 new homes nearly 17 months after planning consent was granted in May last year.

The Gateway 2 sign-off carries four minor requirements. It clears the way for construction of four blocks on the eastern side of the Southwark estate. Bouygues is now preparing to move phase two into construction.

The regulator's review took 34 weeks, following a six-month detailed design push that involved more than 28 specialist design and engineering partners. Nearly 900 documents supported the application.

Marianne Chardon, head of design at Bouygues UK, said: "Gateway 2 approval is testament to the expertise and dedication of our team and design partners.

"The rigorous design process, collaborative approach with the regulator, and robust documentation framework have positioned Tustin Phase 2 as a benchmark for complex housing delivery under the Building Safety Act."

What does phase two deliver?

Designed with dRMM Studio Architects alongside estate residents, the second phase will deliver maisonettes and one, two and three-bedroom flats across its four blocks.

It forms part of a four-phase programme on the wider estate. The full rebuild delivers:

• Nearly 700 new homes
• A new primary school
• Refurbished council homes
• A central park
• More than 1,800 sq m of commercial space

Phase one is already complete and handed over to residents. Work on the wider estate rebuild began in autumn 2022, with completion planned for 2030.

What does the approval change?

For residents waiting on the estate's transformation, the Gateway 2 decision converts an approved design into buildable blocks — and it does so under the Building Safety Act regime that has slowed or stalled high-rise housing projects across England since it took effect. The 34-week review timeline at Tustin offers other developers a worked example of how long the process can realistically take when documentation and design coordination are front-loaded.

Bouygues frames the result as proof the regime can work at scale. With phase two heading to site, the project stays on track for its 2030 completion target.