Customer Service Charter

Customer care is a high priority and we are available to architects, designers and the public for free goodwill advice.  We have in house expertise on structure, fire safety, ground conditions, drainage etc.  We also endeavour to carry out a site inspection the same day on a request by telephone received before 10.30 am.

The district is divided into four areas and we have a highly motivated and qualified team of inspectors.  We aim to check all Building Regulations applications for compliance within fifteen working days from deposit of plans.

Completion certificates are issued at the end of the work (provided all works comply with the Building Regulations) to show that it has been fully inspected and approved.

MAKING AN APPLICATION

There are two methods of making an application to the Local Authority for work requiring Building Regulation consent.  These are known as the Full Plans Application and the Building Notice.

1 A Full Plans application is suitable for all building work.

Under this method the plans are examined by the Building Surveyor within an agreed 5 or 8 week period.  When the plans are found to be in compliance with the Building Regulations, or are amended to bring them into compliance, an official approval certificate is issued.

The benefit of following this route is that if the work is carried out in accordance with the approved plans only minor contraventions, which can be easily corrected, should occur on site.

2 A Building Notice is suitable for minor works including replacement windows, cavity wall insulation and alteration works.

Control of the work is carried out on site after each part is completed, and any contraventions of the Regulations discovered by the Building Surveyor may require the removal or alteration of the offending work.

A Building Notice may not be used if

• you are carrying out any work to any commercial premises, place of work or other Fire Certified building.
• where the proposed work involves the erection, extension or underpinning of a building over, or in the vicinity of,  a public sewer or drain.

A Full Plans submission should contain:

1. Two completed Full Plans application forms.
2. Two sets of plans for domestic work, drawn to a scale of not less than 1:100 to show that the work to be carried out complies with the Building Regulations.  This would normally include floor plans, sections, elevations, and structural calculations where appropriate.
3. Two copies of a site or location plan drawn to a scale of not less than 1:1250 showing the site, boundaries and position of the public sewers.
4. The appropriate fee, see the section on ‘Charges’ and contact us on the phone numbers and e-mail below.
5. Applications for work relating to commercial buildings must contain three sets of plans.  One set will be sent to the Fire Officer for consultation.

A Building Notice submission should contain

1. One completed Building Notice application form, and

i) If the proposal is for a new building or extension, the Notice should contain a site or location plan drawn to a scale of not less than 1:1250 showing the site, proposed work, boundaries and position of the public sewers

ii) The appropriate fee, see the section on ‘Charges’ and contact us on the phone numbers and e-mail below.

WARNING!

Delays in processing your application may occur if:

• The form is not completed properly or is unsigned and undated
• The fee is not correct or a detailed estimate is not provided when relevant
• Insufficient information is provided with your application

CHARGES

The Building Regulation charges depend on the type of project for which you are submitting an application.

They are separated into three categories:

Schedule 1 New dwellings

Set charges dependent on the number of new dwellings in your proposal. For dwellings up to three storeys and less than 300 m²

Schedule 2 Small buildings and domestic extensions

Set charges for domestic extensions, garage and garage extensions based on the new internal floor area.

Schedule 3 Other work

For other work, such as alterations, conversions of garages and commercial work etc, the charges are taken from a scale based on the estimated cost of the work.

ESTIMATED COSTS

Estimates must be based on the cost that a builder would reasonably charge to do the work. This means that you cannot assume a DIY cost reduction.

MINIMUM and MAXIMUM CHARGES

Minimum charges apply to the following works:

• Loft conversions
• Domestic extensions over 60 m²

Maximum charges apply to applications for replacement windows, doors and rooflights.

Please contact us for our current charges on the phone numbers and e-mail below.

PAYMENT

Full Plans submissions:

Part of the charge, the ‘plan charge’, is payable when the plans are submitted.*   A further charge, the ‘inspection charge’, is due when work commences.  You will be sent an invoice for this.

*For smaller projects the whole charge is paid when the plans are submitted.

Building Notice submissions:

Just one ‘Building Notice Charge’ is paid when you submit a Building Notice.  This charge is the same as the plan and inspection charges combined.

If you have any difficulty please contact us on the phone numbers and e-mail below!