Do I need to apply for Building Regulations?
When you have your planning permission and are thinking about starting work on your project you may need to apply for Building Regulation Approval. Most work has to comply with Building Regulations but some work is exempt.
Proceeding without the relevant Permissions or approvals for Planning and/or Building control may result in removal or reinstatement of works. The land/property owner is legally responsible and must ensure that all building works meet the relevant planning rules and building regulations.
Application for Planning Permission and application for Building Control are two separate processes. Grant of permission/ approval for one process does not mean you automatically have permission for both.
To understand the difference you can visit:
What's the difference between planning and building control?
Information on Planning can be found on our Planning Page
Why is Building Control Important?
Submitting a Building Control application is important for several reasons. Here's why it matters:
✅ 1. It ensures the building is safe
Building Regulations exist to make sure new buildings or those undergoing alteration have meet a minimum safety standard for safe use by occupants and the wider public.
Building control is here to ensure the health, safety and welfare of people in and around buildings. we do this by auditing construction works and design to ensure that likely compliance has been met.
✅ 2. It's a legal requirement
Most building work in the UK legally requires either Full Plans Approval or Building Notice acceptance.
If work is carried out without approval, consequences can include:
- Enforcement action from the Local Authority
- Legal orders to remove or redo the work
- Fines/ Custodial Sentence
- Difficulty selling or insuring the property
Building Control oversight of a project helps to protect everyone involved.
✅ 3. It protects the homeowner's investment
A home or commercial property is often someone's biggest asset. Building Control oversight of a project helps to ensure:
- The work is durable and meets recognised performance standards.
- It can help the property retains its value
- Future buyers have confidence in the building's safety and compliance
Lack of Building control is a common reason property sales fall through.
✅ 4. It provides independent, professional oversight of your project.
Our Registered Building Inspectors provide:
- Site inspections at key stages
- Expert advice to correct issues early.
- Verification that builders follow approved plans and meet regulations.
All Registered Building Inspectors are independently assessed by a third party and licensed by the Building Safety Regulator.
✅ 5. It ensures environmental and energy standards are met
Modern regulations require:
- Energy‑efficient materials and construction
- Low‑carbon heating solutions
- Sustainability measures in drainage and waste systems
Meeting compliance can mean that buildings contribute to environmental performance targets rather than undermining them.
✅ 6. It protects future occupants and generations
Good construction lasts decades. Building Control prevents shortcuts that could cause:
- Damp and mould
- Structural movement
- Fire spread
- Unsafe electrics or gas installations
It ensures the building will be safe not just today but for many years to come.
Do you guarantee or provide warranty the works?
Building controls function is to audit construction projects to satisfy ourselves that compliance with regulations has likely been met, this is done via visits where we see a snapshot of the works as they progress.
Building control is not a clerk of works and cannot be always on site to oversee all elements of construction and the building control certificate is not a guarantee or warranty of the works.
This type of project oversight will need to be sought separately.
Are my works exempt from control?
Not all building works require building control and certain works would be exempt from formal control. It is important to note that some exemptions rely on certain conditions in place such as size, distance, thermal performance and proposed use.
Exemption information can be found on the LABC Front Door website at Building control exemptions
Further Questions you have may be answered on our frequently asked questions page
If you are still unsure you can contact us on 01237 428724 or email [email protected]
