How to Make an Application
Which type of application is required?
There are two ways of making an application for new works, depending on the type of building in question e.g. a Building Notice or a Full Plans Submission.
Where any of the following types of building work are to be undertaken, the submission must be in the form of a Full Plans Application.
- Where the building use is either designated under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 or is subject to the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 and where the proposed work would adversely affect provisions for means of escape and/or access and facilities for the fire service.
- Work which includes the erection of a building fronting on to a private street.
- A new building or extension or underpinning of a building over or within 3 metres of the centreline of a public sewer (or any drain/sewer shown on the sewage undertakers map of sewers).
Full Plans Applications
In order to obtain formal approval before the work begins, you can submit a Full Plans application. Decisions can take up to five weeks but are usually given much sooner. Full details covering all aspects of your proposals should be submitted for approval by way of drawings/plans (see plans checklist for more information). Once you have made a Full Plans Submission you may submit a Commencement Notice 48 hours before the work starts. In some cases we may need to consult the Fire Brigade to ensure that adequate Fire Precautions measures are provided.
When making a Full Plans application you should enclose the appropriate fee together with two copies of the drawings and if appropriate, structural calculations, giving full details of your proposals. Where the building use is designated under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 or is subject to the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 an additional copy of plans showing fire precautions should be submitted.
We will acknowledge your application within five days, letting you know if for any reason it is incomplete and we will give you the name of the surveyor dealing with your project.
We will only reject your application if it shows major contraventions of the Building Regulations. Wherever possible we will approve it, if necessary with conditions where we need additional information or if minor changes are needed. If you or your agent disagree with our decision you have the right to appeal to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Building Notice Applications
Domestic alterations and extensions. You may submit a Building Notice Application giving brief details of your proposal, with relevant drawings/plans (see plans checklist for more information). Your application, fee and any block plan must all be submitted at least 48 hours before the work begins. You may at the same time, submit a commencement notice .
To view the merits of each type see making a building regulations application
Site Conditions and Variations
With both types of application, particularly for Building Notices, there may be occasions where site conditions reveal unforeseen factors which may lead to additional expenditure. It is advisable to make allowance for this in setting a budget for the project. However, for straight forward construction works necessary to satisfy Building Regulations should already have been taken account of by the builder and should not generally be subject to additional cost.
Unauthorised Works
Where unauthorised building works have been carried out (i.e. an application as referred to above was not made prior to the works being commenced) it may be possible for you to make a retrospective application. Where the works were commenced, within the preceding 12 months the application should be in the form of a Full Plans Application as referred to above. Where the works were commenced before that time and on or after 11 November 1985, an application may be made for a Regularisation Certificate . This should be accompanied by plans detailing the work carried out. In each case it is likely that parts of the works will need to be uncovered or exposed in order to check for compliance with the relevant sections of the regulations. We will advise you further on this point and on any further works which may be required to secure compliance with the regulations following inspections of the works. Once we are satisfied that the relevant regulations have been complied with we will issue you with a Certificate.
Data Protection
Persons submitting information for Building Regulations and allied purposes are advised that information you give us will be held on computer or manual record, which you have a right to see and check. The information is used by the Council to fulfil its statutory obligations, may occasionally be used to obtain feedback on the Building Control Service, and in connection with the prevention and detection of crime and fraud. The Council also retain and archive a copy of the information submitted. Such archives are made available for inspection by persons with bona fide reasons, such as building owners and prospective purchasers. All legal obligations regarding copyright etc. are observed.
Subject to the above exceptions, information is not passed to other persons or organisations. The council's obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 are explained in the leaflet "How to see your records - You rights under the Data Protection Act 1998" available from this office and from Libraries.
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