Building Regulations apply to most new buildings and many alterations to existing buildings in England and Wales, whether residential, commercial or industrial. There are alternative Scottish Building Regulations which apply in Scotland.
Replacing windows and doors, electrical work, bathroom installations and replacing boilers would all require building regulations unless the work is undertaken by a competent person, in which case the certificate by the competent contractor is sufficient. If you intend to sell the property after the work is completed it is often advisable to obtain Building Control consent in order to receive a Completion Certificate which can be attached to the sale particulars to avoid possible buyer’s concerns.
Some works are exempt from Building Regulations such as greenhouses and horticultural buildings or for keeping animals, single storey buildings not exceeding 30m² floor area (such as garage buildings, conservatories or porches at ground level) although any electrical installations within them would have to comply with electrical safety regulations.
PHD Associates can provide you with a package of drawings and specifications suitable for Building Regulation approval which we can issue to either your local authority Building Control or to a private approved inspector. Unless you are very familiar with the process, we generally recommend receiving Building Regulations consent under a Full Plans system where you submit drawings, details and specifications indicating how you intend to carry out the building works or alterations to be checked and confirmed by Building Control prior to commencing works on site. Once the plans are approved by the Building Control, works can commence on site when a Building Control Inspector will carry out site inspections at appropriate intervals. The alternative process is to submit a Building Notice where the Building Control Inspector conducts inspections and checks construction methods on site to confirm compliance with the Building Regulations, and PHD Associates can also assist you with this process.
Please contact us to discuss your needs.
