1. When I submit an application, what will happen?
The application will first be reviewed, to ensure all the required information has been submitted, and determine the application fee. Once satisfied we have the correct information and the fee has been paid, you will receive written confirmation that your application has been registered. The application will be allocated to one of our building inspectors for review.
If you have submitted Building Notice application to the council, you must give the council at least 2 days notice before actually starting the building work on site.
With a building notice, you do not get an 'approval' or an 'approved plan'. If you are borrowing money for the work, your Building Society or Bank may ask for an approval notice. In which case your solicitor may suggest that you instead submit an ‘application for building control approval with full plans’ (otherwise known as a full plans application) and provide a copy of the formal decision notice granting the application. Your builder may prefer or indeed require plans for estimating and building. In addition, where building work are carried out in accordance with approved plans, this process also provides certain legal protections against statutory enforcement action.
In the case of an ‘Application for Building Control Approval with Full Plans’, the application will be assessed by one of our building inspectors. If there is any missing information or non-compliant aspects to the design we will provide a schedule letter requested supplementary or revised plans. The formal decision must be made within 5 weeks, however we can extend this by agreement if you require more time to prepare this additional information. The application will then be Granted, Granted with Requirements or Rejected.
Legally you must give the council at least 2 days notice before actually starting the work on site. However, it is strongly advised to wait until your application has been assessed and you have received notice that the application has been formally ‘Granted (with or without requirements)’ before starting the work. If work has already started and the application is instead ‘Rejected’, the works will be considered unauthorised works and may be subject to enforcement action and a retrospective application for ‘Regularisation Certificate’ will be necessary.
Whichever application route is chosen, there are other legal restrictions under the Building Regulations which can affect when site works can start, so if unsure please contact us to discuss your specific project.
The council’s current policy for notification for site inspection requests is 24 hours so we will aim to visit on the next working day after the request is made. An Inspection Service Plan (ISP) will be provided when the application is registered highlighting the key stages for building control inspections. This may be modified during the course of the works by the inspecting officer depending on the needs of the project e.g where remedial works require follow up inspections.
Failure to notify the council at the required stages may mean that the completion certificate cannot be issued and works may need to be exposed to check it complies. Photographs are not generally accepted in lieu of a physical key stage on-site inspections except in limited circumstances and by prior agreement with your building inspector.
Inspections can be made by telephoning 01395 517482 or by visiting our online inspection request page. Please have your building control reference number ready when you call.