Case Study: How POD Secured a Building Assessment Certificate (BAC) for Discovery Tower, a Landmark London High-Rise
Discovery Tower is a legacy high-rise residential building located in Hallsville Quarter, London. As one of the tallest residential buildings in the UK, it faced a significant milestone in 2025: securing its Building Assessment Certificate (BAC) under the UK’s new building safety regulations, a key benchmark for property and estate management companies.
Securing a (BAC) is a significant achievement, especially given the historical difficulty and scrutiny involved. Discovery Tower’s approval reflects the exceptional quality of the submission and the regulator’s confidence in its quality and completeness.
This case study outlines how we worked alongside Bouygues UK and Oakleaf to meet the challenge, demonstrating clearly how we operate excellent property management in the UK.
The Challenge: Certification in a Complex High-Rise Building
Discovery Tower’s BAC application was complicated by several factors:
Over a decade old, Discovery Tower had fragmented historical records, typical of legacy high-rise buildings.
A regulator call-in had already been issued, creating a strict deadline for compliance.
The application required alignment of technical safety documentation with operational property management data.
Collaboration across all stakeholders was essential to produce a comprehensive, regulator-ready submission.
The Solution: Structured Partnership and Clear Communication
POD played a key role in coordinating efforts between stakeholders and delivering essential components of the BAC application.
POD Management established a collaborative framework with Bouygues UK (Principal Accountable Person) and Oakleaf (third-party technical lead). This partnership was key to overcoming the challenges and delivering a high-quality BAC submission and is a best practice for property management companies facing complex regulatory requirements.
Safety Case Report (SCR)
Oakleaf led the technical compilation of the SCR, gathering detailed information on the building’s design, construction, and maintenance history. POD contributed operational data, offering insights into day-to-day property management safety.
Oakleaf’s structured methodology helped fill gaps in historical records and ensured comprehensibility.
POD’s operational insights aligned technical evidence with practical realities.
Bouygues UK provided construction-related documentation.
Despite time constraints and incomplete legacy data, the SCR was delivered successfully, offering a robust, evidence-based account of Discovery Tower’s safety systems.
Resident Engagement Strategy (RES)
POD took full ownership of developing the RES, creating a strategy that was:
Inclusive: ensuring all residents had access to safety information.
Transparent: outlining clear communication channels and feedback mechanisms.
Effective: enabling residents to actively participate in safety planning.
The RES was accepted by the regulator without any Requests for Information (RFIs) and was noted as “best in class”, setting a new standard for resident engagement in UK building safety. It had previously been featured in a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) case study (page 10). This recognition underscores the importance of resident involvement in building safety and sets a benchmark for future applications.
Mandatory Occurrence Reporting (MOR) System
The MOR system was jointly developed by POD and Bouygues UK to provide a clear, reliable framework for reporting and escalating safety-related incidents.
It enables transparent reporting from residents and building management.
Ensures swift response and escalation of safety issues.
Was accepted in full by the regulator with no RFIs, demonstrating confidence in its robustness.
This system not only meets regulatory requirements but also empowers all stakeholders to contribute to a safer living environment at Discovery Tower.
Collaborative Working
Weekly meetings between Bouygues UK, Oakleaf, and POD facilitated:
Early identification of missing data.
Rapid decision-making.
A shared commitment to maintaining momentum and meeting deadlines.
The Results: Recognition and Industry Benchmark
Discovery Tower received its BAC in September 2025, with only one RFI issued (and resolved quickly). This outcome reflects the strength of the submission and the effectiveness of the collaboration, initiated by POD. In short:
BAC Awarded: Discovery Tower joins a select group of UK residential buildings certified under the new safety framework.
Regulatory Confidence: The RES (Resident Engagement Strategy) and MOR (Mandatory Occurrence Reporting) System was accepted without changes, showcasing quality in the submission’s quality.
Resident Engagement: The RES was spotlighted by the regulator as a model for future applications, stating it was “best in class” within a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) case study (page 10).
Team Collaboration: Strong relationships between Bouygues UK, Oakleaf, and POD were instrumental in overcoming technical and logistical challenges.
This achievement not only demonstrates POD Management’s leadership in building safety compliance but also sets a benchmark for property management companies across the UK. The Discovery Tower project is now recognized as an industry model for collaboration, resident engagement, and regulatory excellence.
Why It Matters for Property Management Companies
The Discovery Tower case study shows how property management companies in the UK can respond to evolving safety regulations with practical, well-organised strategies. Whether managing legacy buildings or new developments, managing agents must be ready to coordinate across stakeholders, communicate clearly, and support residents throughout the process.
Choosing the Right Partner for Building Safety and Compliance
To discuss how POD Management can support your property or estate management needs - whether for legacy high-rises or new developments - contact us today via our enquiry form, email relationships@podmanagement.co.uk, or call 0333 577 6656.
We look forward to hearing from you!