Apply for building regulations

Building regulations are a set of standards for the design and construction of buildings to ensure the safety and health of people who use and go around those buildings. They also include requirements to ensure that fuel and power is conserved and that facilities are provided for people with disabilities.

You have a legal requirement to notify your local authority Building Control Section when you intend to carry out any building work that is covered by the Building Regulations 2010.

There are 3 different application types requiring different levels of information.

Full plans

This is the traditional way of notifying the Authority of the work proposed. It enables you to obtain confirmation that proposed plans and specifications comply with the requirements of the Regulations and at the same time inform us of the work.

After checking, any non-complying items, or items requiring clarification, are drawn to the attention of the applicant or agent. This allows amendments or revised drawings to be submitted.

The Building Act requires us to make a decision on the application within five weeks of its deposit, or two months if agreed by the applicant. However a decision is usually given in a shorter time.

If non-complying issues remain and a decision has to be made, it may be necessary to reject the application. Similarly, a conditional approval may be issued, requesting further information or requiring certain amendments to be made to the deposited plans.

In either case, submission of revised details which resolve issues, either on a rejected or conditionally approved application, will result in full approval at no additional charge to the applicant.

Obviously, if the plans show no items requiring clarification, they will automatically be fully approved.

In respect of commencing the work in question, you may do so 2 days after submission of the application. However, it must be borne in mind that commencing work without first obtaining approval does involve a risk. It may necessitate altering work that is subsequently found to contravene.

It is therefore recommended that work does not commence until approval of plans is obtained.

Please note that we pride ourselves on the service we provide and over 95% of full plans applications we receive are checked within 15 days and are approved on first submission.

Building notice

A Building notice is simply a notice to the Council of your intention to carry out building work.

It is a simple form giving basic details of the project. If the work involves the erection of a building or extension, the Notice should be accompanied by a block plan of a scale not less than 1:1250.

The Building Notice procedure cannot be used if the work is to a building designated under the Regulatory Reform (Fire safety) Order, i.e. any building other than a simple dwelling.

If, during the inspection programme, certain aspects of the construction are in doubt, details and plans will be requested for examination.

As with the Full Plans submission, you may commence work after two days from the date of deposit.

You should be absolutely sure you are going to proceed with your project prior to submitting a Building Notice, as there is no mechanism to issue a full refund  once your Building Notice submission has been made.

Regularisation

This type of application is for when you may have carried out work without the benefit of Building Regulations approval

Note that if you have carried out work without first obtaining the necessary building regulation approval, you may have difficulty selling the property or re-mortgaging.

If the work was done after the 11th November 1985, there is a procedure that you can use to obtain permission retrospectively.

You should submit two copies of plans showing the work before and after with full construction details, along with a regularisation application form and the appropriate fee.

This type of fee does not attract VAT but is 125% of the normal fee (without VAT) as indicated in the council's charging scheme.  Once your application is received, a surveyor will contact you to arrange a visit the premises and evaluate what has been done.

If remedial work is necessary this will be highlighted and once corrected, a regulation certificate will be issued.

LABC Portal

You can apply online through the LABC Portal.

Email

You can also apply by emailing building.control@npt.gov.uk with a completed application form and a PDF of any:

• plans
• drawings
• specifications
• calculations

Please supply contact details so that we may arrange for the required fee to be paid, and continue with the registration and processing of your application.

Application forms

• Building regulations application form notes