InformationAbout Applications for Building Control Approval with Full Plans
When you submit an Application for Building Control Approval with Full Plans, the local authority will check your plans and consult appropriate authorities (such as the Fire Service or sewerage undertaker)
Your application must include plans and details with sufficient information to demonstrate that the design of the proposed building work is compliant with the applicable Building Regulation requirements.
An Application for Building Control Approval with Full Plans involves a two-stage payment, one when you submit your plans (plan charge) and one following first inspection on site (inspection charge). The plan fee must be paid to complete the registration process. We will request this when we have reached the correct stage in the registration process.
Once your application has been registered the application and submitted plans will be assessed. If the plans are found to demonstrate compliance, the council will issue a formal decision notice confirming that the application has been ‘Granted’.
Where the application does not show full compliance, a schedule letter will normally be provided to the agent highlighting any issues and setting out any revised or additional information required. Once this outstanding or amended information has been provided and reviewed by the building inspector, the will be either Granted, Granted with Requirements (i.e subject to conditions) or ‘Rejected’.
The council must make a formal decision on an Application for Building Control Approval with Full Plans with 5 weeks from date of registration. This time limit can be extended by agreement (e.g where an Architect/agent needs more time to provide revised or supplementary information).
You will also need to notify us when your work is about to start on site and again when your work reaches different stages (you will be advised of these stages when your application is made valid). Before works start you must confirm the details of the Principal Designer and Principal Contractor who have legal duties to ensure that the design and building work is competently planned, managed and carried out to ensure compliance. When notified that a stage of works is complete and ready for inspection, we will visit the site and inspect the works. An inspection report will normally be provided to the client and agent following each site inspection which will detail any non-compliance issues identified so you can discuss with your builder etc and ensure that remedial works are carried out. Additional inspections may be required to check remedial works or where a stage was not sufficiently advanced to complete the inspection.
You must also notify us when works are complete and provide a statutory declaration signed by the client, Principal Designer and Principal Contractor confirming that the design and building works are compliant (a standard form will be provided for this purpose). We will carry out a final inspection when the work has been completed and once satisfied that the work complies with the building regulations and all the necessary documentation and certification has been provided, we will issue a completion certificate. You will need a copy of this completion certificate should you wish the sell the property and it may also be required by your building insurance provider or mortgage provider.
Further information about the site inspection process and the required stages and mandatory notifications is available here: Site inspections - East Devon
Please note that from 1st October 2023 where an application is Rejected, this has the effect that the whole application is of no effect and the application must be resubmitted before work can legally progress.
For this reason we strongly advise against starting work until the application has been formally ‘Granted’ or Granted with Requirements because if the application is subsequently rejected, any works which have already taken place will be considered unauthorised works and a resubmitted application will not be acceptable. In addition, formal enforcement action may be taken although a retrospective Regularisation Application may be submitted to resolve the situation.
You can submit an application by using our online form or you can contact us on 01395 517482 or buildingcontrol@eastdevon.gov.uk for other options.