Building Control

A fee is paid to the local authority's Building Control department based on the anticipated cost of works. The Building Control Officers (BCOs) are then tasked with checking that the project meets a minimum set of criteria for an increasingly broad set of Building Control issues.

Before submitting your application, it is well worth discussing any concerns with a BCO. By their very nature BCOs tend to be practical people, some with a huge range of experience. They may also have some latitude and discretion to accept a proposed solution – albeit with some modifications to suit the situation in hand.

Make friends with the BCOs

The author has found BCOs among the most helpful professionals you can find within local government and are worth consulting, but don't expect them to do your job for you. As a professional you are required to deliver the appropriate solution if you are taking a fee for it!

Alternatively, the Building Act provides for an 'approved inspector' scheme, so you can use external inspectors (under the aegis of the NHBC, for example). Although perhaps aimed at large-scale new-build developments, the option is nevertheless there.