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10 Oct 2008

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Building Control

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Last revised: 7 October 2008

Introduction to Building Control

Building Regulations

The Control of building standards is completely separate from development control, and approval under the building regulations should not be confused with planning permission. Two separate applications may be necessary and the District Council must be notified before work begins. Approval under the building regulations does not mean that planning permission has been given and vice versa.

Even if the work does not need planning permission, it may require approval under the Building Regulations

Building Regulations are concerned with maintaining the health, safety, welfare and convenience of people in and around buildings. The Building Regulations 2000 are split to cover various elements of building design. Each of the regulations are supported by an approved document, published by the Office to the Deputy Prime Minister. Each of the following represent the design element which will need to be complied with to a greater or lesser extent depending on what works are being undertaken. Please follow the links to the ODPM website where the relevant approved document can be downloaded free of charge:

Kennet's Building Control Surveyors are professionally qualified chartered surveyors, building engineers or fire engineers. They have expert local knowledge of ground conditions in the area. The Building Control Section is also able to call on specialist advice on planning, structural engineering and environmental health and the Fire Authority. Homebuyers, building societies, and professionals alike appreciate the integrity, political independence, public accountability and continuity offered by the Council's Building Control service.

Applying for approval from the local authority
An application must be made for approval under the building regulations in connection with any of the follows:

the erection or extension of a building
the material alteration of a building
the provision or extension of a controlled service or fitting in or in connection with a building including most electrical installation work
work relating to the material change of use of a property
the insertion of insulating material into a cavity wall of a building
work involved in underpinning a building

However, certain minor buildings or works may be wholly exempt from the regulations, and advice should be sought as to whether an application is required. Application forms and notes for guidance of applicants are obtainable from the Building Control Section.

There are two different ways you may make your application. For your convenience the Wessex Building Control Group uses the same form for each:

Building Notice
Full Plans Application

The choice is yours. The difference between a Building Notice and Full Plans submission is explained below.

Building Notice

With a Building Notice, you complete an application form and send it a site plan to the Council. You cannot use a Building Notice where the use is a designated use e.g., Hotels and Boarding Houses, Factory, Office or Shop. An approval notice will not be given for a Building Notice. Where necessary, the Building Control Surveyors may request details to be produced that will ensure that any more complicated issues are resolved as early as possible in the construction process.

Full Plans

With a Full Plans application, you complete a copy of a similar form and send it to the Council with four copies of your detailed plans. They will consider your proposals and may ask for amendments with a view to giving an approval. This will give you the protection of being able to prove your plans were passed. Applications will shortly be able to be made on line, using www.submit-a-plan.com (External link) and amendments can be sent in via email.

Charges (pdf, 651 KB)

The Council makes charges for the processing of Building Regulation applications and the subsequent inspection of the work. Information on the current scale of charges is available from the Building Control Section or for most works on the flip side of the application form that can be downloaded from using the following Links:

Starting Work

Once you have given either a Building Notice or Full Plans Application to the Council, you should give the Council at least 2 days notice before actually starting work. In the case of a Full Plans Application, it is best to wait until your plans have been passed before starting work, although this is not essential. The problem with starting work prior to approval comes from the fact that unfortunately not all issues may have been resolved on the plans being considered, and subsequent building alterations can be costly to you. If in doubt, please phone your Building Control Surveyors at Kennet Building Control Services, Browfort, Bath Road, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 2AT

Tel: 01380 734777 Fax 01380 734775

Email: bld.control@kennet.gov.uk

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. Your solicitor may suggest that you obtain Full Plans approval. Your builder may prefer or require them for estimating and building.

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Kennet District Council
Browfort
Bath Road
Devizes
Wiltshire
SN10 2AT.
01380 724911
E-mail Kennet

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Date printed: 10 Oct 2008
This page: http://www.kennet.gov.uk/planning/building-control.htm

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