Types of application

Full plans

• Scale plans are required (which you draw yourself). You choose whether the decision is made in five weeks or two months (we try to issue the decision as soon as possible)
• The plans are approved, conditionally approved, or rejected
• If rejected, the reasons will be listed and set out with the notice (this is rare as we try to have the proposals amended accordingly)
• If conditionally approved, a list of conditions will be sent out
• Works may be commenced prior to the decision being issued, but these are carried out at your own risk

Building notice

• Generally used for minor work
• The application is accepted within 48 hours and work may then commence
• The submission is accepted, not approved. Works are assessed by our surveyors whilst work is in progress
• Scale plans are not normally necessary (but may be requested on more complex jobs)

Regularisation

When work has been completed without Building Regulation Approval.

After acceptance of the regularisation application, an applicant may be required to take such steps as are necessary to ensure that the relevant requirements of the building regulations are met.

These may include:

• laying open the unauthorised work for inspection by Building Control
• making tests
• taking samples

The Building Control Surveyor would notify the applicant:

• of any work that may be required to be carried out for compliance
• that they cannot determine what work is required to comply

A regularisation certificate will be issued when the relevant requirements of compliance have been satisfied.

Demolitions

Sections 80, 81, 82 and 83 of the Building Act 1984 impose a number of duties on the person who intends to carry out the demolition work. These are:

• To give written notice to the Building Control Section of the intended demolition, specifying the building, its address and the extent of the demolition works.
• The demolition company must not commence demolition work until:
• Building Control has given the demolition contractor, builder or developer written confirmation that the work can be carried out
• A period of six weeks has elapsed from the date that Building Control was notified in writing

Contraventions

If work on site is identified as contravening the requirements of the Building Regulations, the Building Control Surveyor will advise on what is wrong and discuss how the work can be altered to comply. In most cases this consultation process usually brings about a satisfactory resolution to the matter.

In the event of this consultation process failing, Building Control can serve a notice requiring the work to be altered or removed. If failure to comply with the notice occurs the local authority can carry out the work and charge a reasonable cost for doing so.

You are entitled to appeal against the notice to a magistrates court if you consider the notice unjustified and you can submit to the courts a report prepared by a suitable professionally qualified person in support of your appeal.

If you fail to comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations the local authority are able to instigate legal proceedings through the magistrates courts who can impose fines.

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