What is Building Control
The Building Control Service
The purposes of the Building Regulations are to secure reasonable standards of health and safety for persons in and about buildings, to provide for energy conservation and for access and facilities for persons with disabilities. They are not about quality control or the way the building looks, and are separate to planning legislation.
We carry out the Council’s duty under the Building Act 1984 to administer the Building Regulations. We do this by processing notifications (details and plans), that must be given by people carrying out building work, and by making site inspections of the work. We are in competition with the private sector where the work is for new housing or is of a commercial nature. We are required by law to recover the cost of this work from fees.
It is our aim to provide a responsive, customer orientated service that makes the process of complying with the requirements of the Building Regulations as simple and easy as possible, and that is cost effective, efficient and of a consistent quality.
The service is Quality Assured to ISO9002. Our surveyors are educated to degree standard and are professionally qualified and experienced in the construction industry. They undertake tasks in addition to their main activity of administering the Building Regulations. The main responsibilities are:-
1. To provide a competitive Building Control Service
Approving Full Plans
Full Plans will be acknowledged and checked to see that the proposed work will comply with the Regulations. You will be notified if there is a need to amend the plans. Most plans are checked within three weeks of receipt.
The Council has to give a decision within five weeks, but this period can be extended to eight weeks to allow any amendments to be made where necessary. Approved plans will give you the assurance that when you or your builder construct the work in accordance with those plans, the requirements of the Building Regulations will be met.
Processing Building Notices
This is a simplified procedure that can be used on all proposals other than for places of work, where a public sewer is affected or for new dwellings situated off unadopted roads. Acceptable notices will be acknowledged, or you will be contacted if the notification is incomplete, within 2 days of receipt
You should be aware that plans submitted with the notice will not be checked, but used as a guide for the inspection of the work. To assist control on the site, further details or plans, such as structural or unusual designs, may be requested.
Using this procedure does involve the risk that because plans are not checked, work carried out in conformity with those plans may not comply with the Regulations and may therefore require alteration.
Consultation
We will provide a comprehensive pre-application consultation service.
The Building Control Surveyors have a close liaison with other local authority services such as planning, highways, drainage and environmental health, as well as the County fire and Rescue Service and licensing services. Where appropriate we would be pleased to arrange for these organisations to be present at pre-submission meetings. This service provides a one-stop approach in the preparation and processing of applications.
In your consultations with the Building Control Surveyors they would be able to give guidance in respect of means of escape in case of fire, dangerous structures, structural and means of escape aspects of public entertainment licensing, and demolitions.
Listed Buildings can cause concern on account of structural we are pleased to be involved in joint consultation with their Planning Unit in providing solutions to preserve such property.
Inspection of Work
When we have accepted Full Plans or a Building Notice notification, work may begin on site 48 hours after giving notice of its commencement. It is of course advisable to wait until plans have been checked. Surveyors will carry out inspections of the work at various stages. The number of inspections made will relate to the fee paid and the complexity of the work.
The person working on the site will be notified of defects as they arise. This gives them the opportunity to correct the work. On satisfactory completion, a certificate to this effect will be given. Building owners may consider it advisable to await settlement of final accounts until this certificate is given.
How Much does the service cost?
A fee is paid for the checking of plans and a further fee is paid for inspecting the work after that work has commenced. For work that is the subject of a Building Notice, the fee will need to accompany the Notice. We have published a ‘Scheme of Fees’ in accordance with the Governments’ requirements.
2. Dangerous Structures
A community Service whereby the Council may take action to avoid buildings, which are considered in a dangerous condition, from collapsing and causing injury to persons in and around the building.
3. Licensed Premises (for Public Entertainment)
The inspection of buildings used as a theatre, cinema or other forms of public entertainment to ensure adequate standards of structural stability, sanitation and means of escape in case of fire, in the interests of both Licensee and public.
4. Means of Escape in Case of Fire
A community service directed to ensure that persons living in rented flat accommodation, more than 20 feet above adjoining ground level, are provided with a reasonable means of escape in case of fire. Surveys are also undertaken on housing in multiple occupation.
What to do if things go wrong
You and your Agent will be notified of the Surveyor appointed to check the plans and to inspect the building work. Any queries should in the first place be directed to that person, but if you are not satisfied with the response, please contact the Building Control manager.
Should you disagree with any reasons for refusing deposited plans, you may refer the matter to the Secretary of State for a determination.
You will be notified of any defective work on site, but should you not correct this work please note that the Council has a statutory duty to enforce and this may result in legal proceedings, a situation that of course is best avoided in the interests of all concerned.
Complaints
We have a procedure for dealing with complaints. Should you wish to make a complaint, please raise the matter with the Building Control Manager or the Council’s Customer Services Manager. You will be advised of the outcome of the investigations into your complaint, together with any action that the Council proposes to take.
Availability of Service
The service is available on all days other than Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday, Bank Holidays, days appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.
The Building Control Service
The purposes of the Building Regulations are to secure reasonable standards of health and safety for persons in and about buildings, to provide for energy conservation and for access and facilities for persons with disabilities. They are not about quality control or the way the building looks, and are separate to planning legislation.
We carry out the Council’s duty under the Building Act 1984 to administer the Building Regulations. We do this by processing notifications (details and plans), that must be given by people carrying out building work, and by making site inspections of the work. We are in competition with the private sector where the work is for new housing or is of a commercial nature. We are required by law to recover the cost of this work from fees.
It is our aim to provide a responsive, customer orientated service that makes the process of complying with the requirements of the Building Regulations as simple and easy as possible, and that is cost effective, efficient and of a consistent quality.
The service is Quality Assured to ISO9002. Our surveyors are educated to degree standard and are professionally qualified and experienced in the construction industry. They undertake tasks in addition to their main activity of administering the Building Regulations. The main responsibilities are:-
1. To provide a competitive Building Control Service
Approving Full Plans
Full Plans will be acknowledged and checked to see that the proposed work will comply with the Regulations. You will be notified if there is a need to amend the plans. Most plans are checked within three weeks of receipt.
The Council has to give a decision within five weeks, but this period can be extended to eight weeks to allow any amendments to be made where necessary. Approved plans will give you the assurance that when you or your builder construct the work in accordance with those plans, the requirements of the Building Regulations will be met.
Processing Building Notices
This is a simplified procedure that can be used on all proposals other than for places of work, where a public sewer is affected or for new dwellings situated off unadopted roads. Acceptable notices will be acknowledged, or you will be contacted if the notification is incomplete, within 2 days of receipt
You should be aware that plans submitted with the notice will not be checked, but used as a guide for the inspection of the work. To assist control on the site, further details or plans, such as structural or unusual designs, may be requested.
Using this procedure does involve the risk that because plans are not checked, work carried out in conformity with those plans may not comply with the Regulations and may therefore require alteration.
Consultation
We will provide a comprehensive pre-application consultation service.
The Building Control Surveyors have a close liaison with other local authority services such as planning, highways, drainage and environmental health, as well as the County fire and Rescue Service and licensing services. Where appropriate we would be pleased to arrange for these organisations to be present at pre-submission meetings. This service provides a one-stop approach in the preparation and processing of applications.
In your consultations with the Building Control Surveyors they would be able to give guidance in respect of means of escape in case of fire, dangerous structures, structural and means of escape aspects of public entertainment licensing, and demolitions.
Listed Buildings can cause concern on account of structural we are pleased to be involved in joint consultation with their Planning Unit in providing solutions to preserve such property.
Inspection of Work
When we have accepted Full Plans or a Building Notice notification, work may begin on site 48 hours after giving notice of its commencement. It is of course advisable to wait until plans have been checked. Surveyors will carry out inspections of the work at various stages. The number of inspections made will relate to the fee paid and the complexity of the work.
The person working on the site will be notified of defects as they arise. This gives them the opportunity to correct the work. On satisfactory completion, a certificate to this effect will be given. Building owners may consider it advisable to await settlement of final accounts until this certificate is given.
How Much does the service cost?
A fee is paid for the checking of plans and a further fee is paid for inspecting the work after that work has commenced. For work that is the subject of a Building Notice, the fee will need to accompany the Notice. We have published a ‘Scheme of Fees’ in accordance with the Governments’ requirements.
2. Dangerous Structures
A community Service whereby the Council may take action to avoid buildings, which are considered in a dangerous condition, from collapsing and causing injury to persons in and around the building.
3. Licensed Premises (for Public Entertainment)
The inspection of buildings used as a theatre, cinema or other forms of public entertainment to ensure adequate standards of structural stability, sanitation and means of escape in case of fire, in the interests of both Licensee and public.
4. Means of Escape in Case of Fire
A community service directed to ensure that persons living in rented flat accommodation, more than 20 feet above adjoining ground level, are provided with a reasonable means of escape in case of fire. Surveys are also undertaken on housing in multiple occupation.
What to do if things go wrong
You and your Agent will be notified of the Surveyor appointed to check the plans and to inspect the building work. Any queries should in the first place be directed to that person, but if you are not satisfied with the response, please contact the Building Control manager.
Should you disagree with any reasons for refusing deposited plans, you may refer the matter to the Secretary of State for a determination.
You will be notified of any defective work on site, but should you not correct this work please note that the Council has a statutory duty to enforce and this may result in legal proceedings, a situation that of course is best avoided in the interests of all concerned.
Complaints
We have a procedure for dealing with complaints. Should you wish to make a complaint, please raise the matter with the Building Control Manager or the Council’s Customer Services Manager. You will be advised of the outcome of the investigations into your complaint, together with any action that the Council proposes to take.
Availability of Service
The service is available on all days other than Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday, Bank Holidays, days appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.
