Application for building control approval with full plans afford greater protection to the applicant and more certainty in terms of satisfying the what will be built which may assist in reducing the risk of abortive work.
Application for building control approval with full plans must be used where are required to be submitted for works being carried out within 3m of a public sewer or where it is proposed to erect a building fronting a private street or for building work to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies i.e. commercial properties.
What are the different application types?
This involves the deposit of detailed plans and specifications for the work. The plans are checked in detail for compliance with the building regulations and if found to be satisfactory, an approval notice is issued. If they require amendment you or your agent will be contacted before a decision is issued.
Application for building control approval with full plans should contain:
- The completed Application Form and the appropriate charge (see ‘Building Control Charges' for details). The application form is required to identify the principal designer and principal contractor as they along with the client as dutyholders have responsibilities under the building regulations 2010 (as amended). More information is available here
- One copy of the specification and detailed drawings of the existing (where applicable) and proposed building work including site boundaries and drainage systems. The drawings should be to a suitable metric scale.
- A location plan, drawn to a metric scale of not less than 1:1250. Suitable Ordnance Survey plans are available from Stroud District Council, for a fee.
- Where Fire Authority consultation is required an additional set of specification and detailed drawings of the existing (where applicable) and proposed building work should be included showing fire resistance, compartmentation, fire detection and alarm systems, emergency lighting, means of escape and signage as appropriate together with design occupancy numbers and a statement as to which code of practice has been used.
- One copy of any structural design and calculations.
Please note. Unlike building notice applications, Application for building control approval with full plans are checked in detail and a formal Decision Notice is issued. If a stamped copy of the specification and plans is required for your record purposes, a additional set should be provided.
This involves filling in the application form and submitting the relevant charge. Building notices are most suited to small domestic works but can be used for new houses, extensions and commercial work where fire safety issues are not involved (please ask for advice). In particular we recommend that a full plans application be made for a loft conversion. If a building notice is submitted, plans/drawings showing structural alterations and fire precautions will usually be requested for loft conversions and for any other work where complex designs might be involved.
A building notice cannot be used where building works are being carried out within 3m of a public sewer or where it is proposed to erect a building fronting a private street or for building work to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies i.e. commercial properties
A building notice application should also include:
- If the proposal is for a new building or extension a site plan to a scale of not less than 1:1250 which shows its location, the boundaries of the site, the drainage and any public sewers in the vicinity. A site plan is not required for internal or other alteration work. Suitable Ordnance Survey plans are available from the Stroud District Council for a fee.
- One copy of any structural design and calculations (where applicable).
Please note. No formal notices are issued but your Building Notice will be acknowledged.
The building regulations provide for a property owner to apply to the Local Authority for a regularisation certificate in respect of ‘unauthorised' building work. This means work which was carried out on or after 11 November 1985 and which should have been subject to the Building Regulations procedures but was not.
A completed application form should be returned with the appropriate charge and detailed drawings and specification to permit an assessment of the unauthorised works.