Making a Building Regs Application

The application should include:

• Application form
• Plan fee (see section on costs - contact your council for fees).
• Drawings - two sets of detailed scale drawings with relevant notes showing service locations plus site location/block plan.
• Structural calculations/site investigations, depending on design and condition of site. Check with your local authority.
• The council will acknowledge receipt of your application and assign a Building Control Surveyor to your case. They will have up to two months (subject to agreement) in which to assess your proposals and issue either an approval or refusal notice.
• If your application conforms to building regulations standards you will be issued an approval notice. In most cases where defects are identified a conditional approval is granted, together with a schedule of amendments which must be complied with.

Refusal:

• If your plans do not comply, you may be given a Refusal Notice. The reasons for rejection will be stated. This gives you a chance to put things right and resubmit. The refusal will not go on record (unlike a planning rejection) and resubmission is at no extra charge.
• If you do not accept that refusal is justified you can seek a dispensation from the local authority. If you are still refused consent, you can seek a determination from the Secretary of State. Speak to your Building Control Surveyor for details.
• Legally, you can start work before an approval notice has been issued, as long as you give the local authority notice of at least two clear working days.
• On issue of an approval notice many local authorities will also send a set of inspection request cards, which state the various stages of construction at which a Building Control Surveyor will want to carry out inspections (see table of typical inspection stages for a new dwelling). The notice required prior to inspection will also be specified. Note: Inspection requirements will vary with each local authority.
• Subject to notification of readiness for inspection, a Building Control Surveyor will visit the site to offer advice and carry out inspections at the various key construction stages determined by each local authority. If they feel in any way that they are not satisfied, they have the power to make you correct the situation. If you fail to co-operate you are liable for prosecution and costs.