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How to Apply

There are five ways to make any application:

Full Plans

This is the route most people choose. You complete a Building Regulation application form and submit this with full plans showing in detail what you want to do. We then check the details to see if they comply with the regulations. We issue an approval notice when the plans are satisfactory. If you are borrowing from a bank or building society to finance the work, they may ask to see an Approval notice (or other evidence of Building Regulation Approval) before advancing you the money. Full plans may also help builders to give you a more accurate price for the work.

Building Notice

You may alternatively complete a Building Notice application form and provide a site plan only. Work is checked and approved as it is carried out. This places a greater burden on you and your builder to ensure the work complies with regulations. So it is best to talk to us first if you are thinking of applying in this way. People rarely use this route unless the works are only minor and they are fully experienced in the construction of which they intend to build.

Note: If the property is a shop, factory, office, hotel or boarding house, you must submit full plans so that we can consult the fire service on your behalf.

Regularisation Certificates

It is uncommon for building work to be undertaken without the appropriate procedure being followed. However where this happens, problems often arise during the conveyancing process. This leaflet provides information about the Regularisation procedure and what to do to sort out the difficulties.

Advice Leaflet 7 Regularization Certificate.pdf This is a link to a PDF file. (150.60 KB)

(Application forms and Guidance Note on charges are available in the Building Control Applications section)

LANTAC

The Local Authority National Type Approval Confederation (LANTAC) offers builders, developers and construction industry professionals a quick and easy route through building regulation plan approval. LANTAC is a service provided by local authorities across England and Wales. Builders make just one application to a local authority to obtain national type or system approval. This allows the builder to repeat a LANTAC approved design throughout England and Wales with a minimum of checking for Building Regulation approval.

As well as providing a nationally recognised technical approval, a LANTAC certificate in many cases is also a valuable marketing aid. Many companies have found that a LANTAC approval gives confidence to prospective purchasers because the design has been thoroughly checked by Local Authority Building Control.

Partner Authority Scheme

The Partner Authority Scheme provides a company with a one-to-one relationship with a local authority for the plan approval aspect of all construction projects irrespective of building type or location.

The Partner Authority liaises closely with the local authority (Inspecting Local Authority) where the project is to be built and acts as an effective conduit between the company and the Inspecting Local Authority, especially in the pre-construction stage. After assessing the plans the Partner Authority issues a Decision Advice Notice to the Inspecting Local Authority which will lead to automatic Building Regulation approval by the Inspecting Local Authority. The scheme allows for access to valuable site specific local knowledge held by the Inspecting Local Authority at the same time protecting the confidential nature of construction design and procurement.

Once on site the Inspecting Local Authority carries out the site inspections, guaranteeing a speedy response. Any deviations from the approved plans will usually be dealt with by the Inspecting Local Authority although major design changes could necessitate the further involvement of the Partner Authority.

There are no additional charges under the new scheme which aims to reduce site delays and building costs by shortening lead in periods during the pre-construction stage as well as by providing a speedy response for site inspections when on site.