InformationGuidance notes – Application for Building Control Approval with Full Plans

  1. The client is the person on whose behalf the work is being carried out, e.g. the land and/or the building’s owner.  The agent (if used) is the person who is submitting the application on behalf of the client and is the person who all correspondence will be sent to and is usually the lead or ‘Principal Designer’.

 

  1. Your application should be accompanied by a set of ‘full plans’ (existing and proposed) and particulars in accordance with the provisions of Building Regulation 14. All plans should be marked with a unique reference number and clearly indicate different revisions. Please note that submitted plans are not considered ‘full plans’ unless they provide sufficiently detailed information to demonstrate compliance with all the applicable requirements of the building regulations. This will normally require professional quality fully annotated construction issue plans prepared by a competent professional designer. They should be fully annotated, detailed and drawn to scale with a scale bar and north point. Full Plans should be example include where relevant:
    • Location plan
    • Site plan existing and proposed and showing site boundaries and setback dimensions
    • Geotechnical survey information where applicable
    • Structural calculations and design details from a competent and suitably qualified structural engineer (e.g MIStructE, CEng MICE)
    • Floor plans (existing & proposed)
    • Fire strategy plans/information
    • Elevations (existing & proposed)
    • Sections
    • Construction details (e.g structural, construction element junction details, thermal bridging details
    • Construction notes/specification together
    • Energy efficiency calculations (e.g SAP calculations for new dwellings)
    • Part M access statement and design information
    • Drainage plans
    • Any other information necessary to demonstrate design compliance

Please contact us if you require guidance on the information which will be included with you specific project. Planning application drawings are not generally sufficiently detailed with technical information for this purpose.

  1. Subject to certain exceptions, an ‘application for building control approval with full plans’ attracts a charge payable by the person by whom or on whose behalf the work is to be carried out.  Most charges are payable in two stages.  The Plan charge is payable when submitting your application and the Inspection charge is payable after the first site inspection of work has been carried out. We will send you an invoice for this amount. (Note: The Inspection charge is a single payment to cover site visits and associated work, as described in the inspection service plan).

The fee payable can be confirmed by providing us with details of the proposed works. To obtain a fee quote, email us details of your proposal, including plans, to buildingcontrol@eastdevon.gov.uk 

  1. Details are required that show compliance with Reg 14 (3) (c)g. how the foundations will be constructed in a way that will not damage the sewer or lateral drain. Note: It is the responsibility of property owners to make diligent enquiries to determine whether the drainage in the vicinity of any proposed development is a public sewer or lateral drain under the control of the of the Water Authority and seek their consent to the ‘build over’ prior to construction – for further advice please call South West Water on 0344 346 2020 (Please note: 03 numbers are charges at standard rates and will be included in any free minutes in a mobile or landline phone contract).

 

  1. The Fire Authority will be consulted where the works relate to premises covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These include:
    • Offices & shops
    • Premises providing sleeping accommodation (not private dwellings) (see note below)
    • Residential care
    • Small & medium places of assembly
    • Large places of assembly
    • Factories & warehouses
    • Theatres & cinemas
    • Educational premises
    • Healthcare premises (responsibility of the Department of Health)
    • Transport premises and facilities

Note: Single private dwellings are outside the scope of the RRO, but works involving apartment buildings and holiday let dwellings are typically within scope and will require a formal consultation.

  1. These notes are for general guidance only; particulars regarding the deposit of plans are contained in Regulation 14 of the Building Regulations 2010 and, in respect of charges, in the Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 2010.

 

  1. Persons proposing to carry out building work or make a material change of use of a building are reminded that permission may be required under the Town and Country Planning Acts. Please call  01404 515616 to speak to the Planning Department for more information.

 

  1. New Dwellings - in relation to the erection of a dwelling, a statement is required to be provided relating to any Optional Requirement imposed under planning permission (e.g enhanced standards under Part G (water efficiency) or Part M (disabled access provisions).

 

  1. The personal information you provide will be processed by the Council in connection with the relevant legislation and may be used in furtherance of Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act. Please note: the Council has legal obligations to protect and provide information under the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

 

  1. The application may be Rejected, Granted or Granted with Requirements. Building Control will decide the application within 5 weeks although this can be extended by agreement to provide additional time to provide any requested additional or revised information.

 

  1. If the submitted application and plans are found to be insufficient or defective and our requests for additional or revised information are not met before the decision date, the council may reject the application. Where this happens the application is of no effect and any works which have already started may be considered unauthorised works. We therefore advise that works are not started until the application has been formally Granted or Granted with Requirements. This aligns to changes to the Building Regulations in October 2023. Should you wish to start work prior to decision stage we recommend you discuss the specific case with the assigned Registered Building Inspector.

 

  1. If the work includes demolition of a building or part of a building, you may be required to submit a demolition notice as prescribed in section 81 of the Building Act 1984.

 

  1. Further information and advice concerning the Building Regulations can be obtained by contacting Building Control on 01395 517482 or emailing buildingcontrol@eastdevon.gov.uk. If in doubt, please ask.

 

 

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Last updated 29 May 2026