Building regulations approval
How to get approval
Full plans
This is the route most people choose.
To make a Full Plans Application you can fill in a full plans application form and submit it with the full plans for the building work, showing exactly what you are going to do. We make sure the plans comply with the Building Regulations, and if they do we issue an approval notice. A Full Plans application is necessary when borrowing money from a bank or building society to pay for the building work. Banks and building societies usually ask to see an approval notice before they will give you any money.
A Full Plans Application will help builders give you an accurate quote.
A Full Plans Application also gives you the peace of mind and security that your plans have been checked to make sure that your building work complies with the regulations.
Your application should consist of the following:
- 2 copies of your application form;
- 2 sets of your plans (and one extra set if the work is not domestic or consists of flats that share a common access); and
- the appropriate charge.
Building notice
This is the least common route and, unless the work is very simple, it is not advisable to take it.
To make a Building Notice Application, you fill in a building notice application form and submit it with a site plan.
A Full Plans Application gives you more security, assurance and protection that your work complies with the Building Regulations. Using a Building Notice will make it harder for your builder to compile an accurate quote for your work.
It may seem quicker to make a Building Notice Application but it could end up taking longer and costing you more money, as a greater emphasis is upon you to make sure your work complies with the Regulations. Our advice is not to do building work on a Building Notice unless the work is very small. For complex building work and for people not very experienced in construction it is fair to say that Building Notices should be avoided.
Not all buildings can be built under a Building Notice. Premises designated under the Fire Precautions Act, such as offices, shops, railway premises and factories, need to be built on a Full Plans application. The reason being that it will be necessary for Calderdale Building Control Services to consult with West Yorkshire Fire Authority, as a Fire Certificate will probably be required. Also, buildings subject to the Workplace Regulations 1997 are required to be built under a Full Plans Application.
A Full Plans application and Building Notice application cost exactly the same so no financial incentive exists for making either application.
Depending on the type of work undertaken, plans and details of the work may be required. If any plans are available it is recommended that these are included with the application.
Your application should consist of the following:
- 1 application form;
- 2 sets of your plans (if required); and
- the appropriate charge.
Regularisation
Regularisation inspections are only conducted by Calderdale Building Control Services when the building work has been completed without Building Regulations Approval. It must be stressed this is not a recommended route to take as it could cause you a great inconvenience at a later date.
Loft conversions and structural alterations, such as the removal of a chimneybreast are common alterations, which are overlooked with regards to Building Regulations. Not only will it prove difficult to sell your house, but also the building work may not comply with the regulations and you could be living in an unsafe building. The work in question may have to be opened up for inspection purposes; this will cause you inconvenience as well as time and money.
If your work does not have Building Regulation Approval it could become very difficult to sell your house. At the best, the sale will be delayed whilst you gain a Regularisation Certificate. The worst scenario is that the sale of the house could fall through with your buyer looking elsewhere.
Even if you feel your work does not require Building Regulation Approval it is always better to ask.
Cost: A Regularisation Certificate is not free. The fee is based on the current cost for obtaining Building Regulation Approval for building work. Regularisation will probably cost more in the long term compared to applying before the work commenced.
Regularisation only applies to work which commenced on or after 11 November 1985.
Depending on the type of work undertaken, plans and details of the work may be required. If any plans are available it is recommended that these are included with the application.
Your application should consist of the following:
- 1 application form;
- 2 sets of your plans (if required); and
- the appropriate charge.
Town Hall, Crossley Street, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 1UJ
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