Building Control guidance - make a building regulation application

Submit an application

There are two ways in which you can give the required notice that you are going to carry out building work.

Charges will be applicable to all Building Regulations applications.

Option 1 - Full Plans application

Should contain:

One copy of the detailed drawings of the proposed building work. The plans should be drawn to scale of not less than 1:100
One copy of a site or location plan drawn to a scale of not less than 1:1250 which shows the proposal, site boundaries, and the position of public sewers
One copy of any plans and specification, which accompanies the drawings, together with structural design and calculations where applicable
The completed application form, estimate of cost of work and the appropriate fee

A single copy of plans are required for buildings covered by fire safety legislation showing: fire resistance; compartmentation; fire detection and alarms; emergency lighting; means of escape and signage.

Unlike the Building Notice, full plans applications are checked in detail and a formal decision notice is issued.

We prefer to receive applications, plans and details electronically online, or as PDFs attached to an email. By doing this we will only need one electronic copy of each document. Electronic submissions help to save on postage and printing costs for everyone.

Option 2 - Building Notice submission

Should include:

A completed Building Notice form
If the proposal is for a new building or extension to a site, a plan to a scale of not less than 1:1250 showing: location; boundaries of site; drainage and any public sewers
The appropriate fee and estimate if required

A Building Notice may not be used for any building subject to fire safety legislation, i.e. most commercial, industrial and retail premises. Nor may they be used for any houses fronting onto private streets (this excludes most new houses) or for any building that is built over or within 3 metres of a public sewer.

Building Notices are most suited to small domestic works but can be used for new houses or extensions. No formal decisions are issued but your Building Notice will be acknowledged. When a Building Notice has been submitted, the Building Control section may ask for any plans of the work or calculations to show that the Regulations are being complied with.

The Building Control section can require plans and information to be submitted if works are not straightforward. This might include certain loft conversions, for example. Delays will occur in either kind of application if the forms are not completed, the required information is not submitted or if the correct fee is not enclosed.

Option 3 - didn't get approval?

If you have carried out building work without first obtaining Building Regulation approval you may face prosecution by us, though it is not something that we like to do and we will usually only take this course of action should we be given no option. Generally we will invite you to apply for a Regularisation Certificate. This is like making a normal 'Full Plans' submission, but after the event.

How to make a Building Regularisation application

You will be required to submit an application form together with each of the following:

One set of plans that show the building work and as-built construction, drawn to a scale not less than 1:100
Plans that show a method of complying with the regulations
One copy of a site location plan scale 1:1250
The appropriate fee equal to the comparative Building Notice charge before VAT, plus an additional 30%. At present, VAT is not payable on Building Regularisation applications.

Once you have submitted an application you will be asked to open up and uncover work as directed by the Building Control surveyor so that it can be inspected. This may, for example, involve digging a hole alongside foundations and removing sections of wall or ceiling. The Building Control surveyor will advise you at the earliest possible opportunity.

Provided that the work is found to be satisfactory and in compliance with the regulations we will issue a Regularisation Certificate, which will act in the same way as a Completion Certificate.