Do I need Building Regulations consent?

You are legally responsible for making sure that any building work that you carry out complies with the Building Regulations and other related legislation.

The Planning Portal has an interactive guide and information covering a wide range of common building works projects which can help you work out whether you need to apply for Building Regulations consent or not.

If you are still unsure then contact us.

What do I do next?

It is a legal requirement that an application for Building Regulations notifiable work is made at least 48 hours before starting work.

There are two types of application for gaining building regulations approval, Full Plans (not to be confused with planning permission) and a Building Notice: 

• The Full Plans process needs you to engage with an architect to provide us with technical drawings and a specification. We will work with your architect to ensure that the drawings comply and issue an approval prior to commencement of work. A Full Plans application should be made in sufficient time before commencement of work to allow time for checking and any amendments to plans if they are required. A Full Plans application is recommended for any proposal that is not minor work. A Full Plans application must be used for any commercial work.

• A Building Notice must be submitted a least 48 hours prior to commencement of work and doesn’t require plans to be submitted. A Building Notice is suitable for minor work and is submitted on the understanding that the person carrying out the work is competent to do so.

Building Regulation application forms and fees

Your work will be inspected by a building control surveyor at various stages as agreed. You will receive a Completion Certificate once the work is found to comply with the Building Regulations and all required information is provided to us.

Failure to make an application before starting may result in enforcement action against the owner of the property. Building work already started or completed without an application must be regularised.

Initial notice

Building regulations consent for work carried out in Charnwood can be approved by either the council or by other organisations know as Approved Inspectors.

If you decide to use an Approved Inspector they must provide us with an Initial Notice, informing us of your choice. We will then have five days to accept or reject the notice, during which time no building work must be carried out

If approved you will then deal exclusively with the Approved Inspector, who assumes full responsibility for ensuring that any work you carry out complies with building regulations.