The government has appointed Loughborough University professor Sergio Cavalaro as chief construction and scientific adviser for building safety.
Cavalaro, professor of infrastructure systems at Loughborough, has been appointed for a three-year term following an open recruitment process, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
He will work full time within MHCLG, providing advice on building safety, construction quality, resilience and productivity.
Cavalaro succeeds interim chief construction adviser Thouria Istephan, with MHCLG confirming that the two will work together during a month-long handover. The department has not said what role Istephan will take once the handover is complete.
The appointment follows the government’s decision earlier this year to give the chief construction adviser scientific adviser status within Whitehall. The creation of the chief construction adviser was one of the major recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s phase two report, which was subsequently accepted by ministers.
MHCLG said Cavalaro would support the implementation of the remaining recommendations from the inquiry and provide advice on regulatory reform. He will also act as a link between government, regulators, industry, professional bodies, academia and residents.
Building safety minister Baroness Jacqui Blake said Cavalaro would contribute to reforms covering safety, regulation and standards across the built environment.
Cavalaro, a civil engineer who holds a PhD in construction engineering, said: “I am committed to working with the Building Safety Regulator and across the wider sector to improve the safety, quality, resilience and productivity of the built environment.”
According to Loughborough University, Cavalaro has advised government departments including the Cabinet Office, Department for Education and Ministry of Defence on “strategic challenges linked to the built environment”.
His academic work has also included “transformative research and innovation” in modern methods of construction and quality control techniques for construction materials, including reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
The appointment comes shortly after the Building Safety Levy came into effect on 1 October 2026.
The levy applies to eligible residential developments and purpose-built student accommodation submitted through the building control process. It will generally apply to developments containing more than 10 homes and is expected to raise around £3.4bn over 10 years.
MHCLG said the money raised will help fund the remediation of unsafe buildings, including the removal of dangerous cladding.
