The HSE-run Building safety Regulator has announced a three-month extension to the deadline for  all building control professionals to be registered and prove their competence by April 6 as part of the post-Grenfell industry shake-up.

Building control chiefs had warned the original April 6 deadline would lead to a complete collapse in the system with nowhere near enough people registered in time.

At least 4,500 qualified inspectors are understood to be needed to cope with current workloads.

Currently 3,261 have started their applications to register.

Director of Building Safety for HSE, Philip White sent an open letter to the industry yesterday detailing the revised timetable.

He said: “The Building Safety Regulator has listened to the concerns raised by the profession, including the potential impact on the construction industry if there are not enough inspectors registered to practice by the legal deadline.

“It is crucial these concerns are balanced with the requirement for BSR to implement the Building Safety Act, 2022 and the need to raise standards in the profession; it is also important to remember that these changes were introduced in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

“A competence assessment extension period of 13 weeks will be introduced from 6 April to 6 July 2024 to enable those who meet specific criteria to continue to operate. This is not an opportunity to delay completing registration as an RBI and there will be no extension to these arrangements.”