Regulatory, policy & strategy research

We were commissioned to research the evolution and impact of the current regulatory landscape for construction products. We completed a rapid evidence assessment of regulatory documents and academic literature, as well as depth interviews with European stakeholders, product manufacturers and their representative bodies in the UK, testing laboratories and users of construction products. As a result of this research, OPSS now possesses up-to-date intelligence about the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), which will be used to inform policy around the regulation of construction products in the UK, including in the event of a divergence between the European and UK regulatory regimes.

This research was commissioned to provide DLUHC with a detailed understanding of how property protection was addressed in building regulations in a range of countries globally. Our methodology drew on expertise from internationally renowned fire engineers across the UK, Canada, USA and Australia, via a series of depth interviews supplemented with a rapid evidence assessment of academic literature and building regulations in 10 countries. The report is being used by the Building Safety Regulator to inform policy development. 

Working with Simpson & Brown, for Historic England (in partnership with Arts Council England, DCMS and National Lottery Heritage Fund), Harlow Consulting surveyed a sample of 101 museums across England to understand the issues and challenges they face in maintaining their listed estates. Detailed quantitative analysis was undertaken on the survey data, to estimate a total value of the backlog in the region of £337.5m. DCMS announced funding of £18.8m for museums to undertake vital infrastructure and urgent maintenance backlogs as a direct result of the findings from our report.