Building Control

Planning legislation controls what can be built, where and what it looks like: Building Control (the Building Control Service or Engineering Services Department of the local authority) has some say in the technical detail of how it will be built.

• The Building Regulations Approved Documents (ADs) form the basic framework upon which the local authority’s Building Control team will judge any works.
• Technical compliance is becoming more complex, and you may need to seek expert assistance, for instance, to performance some calculations.
• Other statutory requirements may also apply – particularly those relating to services such as water, gas and highways.
• Full plans may be a preferable route to the simple Building Notice, now that homeowners will need access to accurate records of works done when they sell their property.

Building Control's primary source of reference is the Building Act 1984, under which sit the Building Regulations and related secondary legislation. The Building Regulations comprise:

• the Building Regulations 2000;
• the Building (Approved Inspectors etc.) Regulations 2000;
• the Building Regulations 2010;
• the Building (Approved Inspectors etc.) Regulations 2010;
• in conjunction with any subsequent amendments.