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  Chartered Institute of Building

Building Regulations Guidelines

The Building Regulations should not be confused with Planning permission or Listed Building Consent. The Building Regulations are concerned with matters such as health and safety, structural stability and energy conservation. These standards apply to all construction work in England & Wales. Scotland and Ireland have their own.

The development of the Building Regulations is steeped in history. In 1666, the Great Fire of London prompted the government of the time to issue byelaws to prevent the spread of fire between buildings in London. Later Acts of Parliament expanded their scope to deal with sanitation and public health.

In 1965, these local building byelaws were replaced by national Building Regulations, which exist to this day. The current format of the Building Regulations was created in 1985 with the most recent edition in 2000.

Obtaining Building Regulations approval is a process distinct from obtaining planning permission or listed building consent. It is normally obtained after these other approvals, if required, have been obtained.

There are additional costs associated with it that should be taken into account

New house at Brinkworth under construction

How do you gain approval?
 

There are currently two methods of gaining Building Regulations approval, full plans submission and the Building Notice procedure.

The Building Notice procedure requires you to obtain the appropriate forms from the Local Authority. These must be completed with a detailed description of the proposed works and a fee for the full amount required to be paid at the time of submission. An Inspector will then be on site at key stages throughout the process to ensure that the building works are completed in accordance with the regulations.

The Full Plans process requires a set of detailed drawings to be produced and submitted to the Local Authority with a fee representing 25% of the total payable. The remainder will be due on completion. Of course, additional costs would be associated with the production of detailed drawings.

What is the best approach?

If you are proposing to build a simple small extension or carry out a minor alteration to a building then the Building Notice procedure is probably the best route. If you have a detailed knowledge of construction techniques and embark on a self-build project then this is also the case.

Large projects or complex and potentially costly works are best approached using the full plans procedure. This helps to ensure that the cost of construction is closer to your original estimates and provides a guide to construction for those with little or no experience in the industry.

As ever, you should consult your Local Authority who will be happy to provide advice on the subject.

Phone: 01285 658565
E-mail: info@CoriniumAS.co.uk
Post: Corinium Architectural Services , Phoenix House, Phoenix Way, Cirencester, Glos, GL7 1QG
Ecohouse Consultancy Ltd Trading As Corinium Architectural Services
Registered in England Number 06156539