The Building Regulations set standards for the design and construction of buildings, primarily to ensure the safety and health for people in or around those buildings, but also for energy conservation and access to and about buildings.

The current Building Regulations cover the following principal areas:

• Structural stability – the building must safely carry anticipated loadings
• Fire precautions – controlling the materials used according to the degree of risk and ensuring buildings could be evacuated without loss of life in the event of fire
• Prevention of dampness and condensation in buildings
• Sound resistance of walls and floors between dwellings
• Ventilation of habitable rooms and unheated voids
• Hygiene, sanitary appliances and drainage
• Heating appliances, including the safe discharge of flue gasses
• Stairways, ramps and vehicle carriers
• Conservation of fuel and power e.g., is the building properly insulated?
• Access to buildings and facilities for disabled people
• The safe positioning of glazing in windows and doors
• Electrical work in relation to a dwelling 

January 2013 newsletter

View the latest edition of the Building control newsletter (Jan 2013) (PDF 1.5MB)

Related documents: 

Reg 16b leaflet (PDF 52KB)

Domestic Solar Panels and Wind Powered Generators

A Building Regulation application will be required for the installation of solar panels on a building and also if free standing, and electrical work is not being carried out by a registered competent person.

A Building Regulation  application will be required for the installation of a wind powered generator on a dwelling and also if free standing, and electrical work is not being carried out by a registered competent person.  

Planning permission may be required for  these works.

New Fire Regulations

On 1st October 2006, the new Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into effect applying to virtually all premises, except private domestic dwellings.

All persons having responsibility for the premises have a duty to ensure the fire safety of anybody in, or in the vicinity of, their premises.

If you are in such a position to be responsible for the premises and require further information please visit the Communities and Local Government website. 

If any building or structure is considered to be in a dangerous condition, Building Control Surveyors are responsible for ensuring that the danger is removed to protect occupiers and the general public.

In the first instance the owner will be informed of the extent of remedial works required. Failure to execute the works within a specified time period may lead to the Council taking legal action in the interests of public safety. In extreme circumstances the Council can invoke emergency powers to require the building or structure to be made safe or demolished immediately.

The Local Authority are permitted to recover the costs associated with any such measures undertaken in an emergency from the owner of the building.  We operate a 24-hour call-out system for all emergencies including dangerous structures.

Under Section 80 of the Building Act 1984 when intending to demolish a building, notice must be be given to the Local Authority which is usually a minimum of six weeks prior to work commencing.

You should fill in our Demolition Notice form (PDF 152KB), or otherwise submit your intention in writing. This notice must be submitted at least six weeks prior to the proposed demolition. Failure to do so is a contravention of the above Act and may result in prosecution.

A location plan of the building and adjoining streets must be provided together with a method statement for the demolition of larger buildings.

A copy of the notice should also be sent to statutory undertakers in order that they may arrange for their services to be properly sealed and other interested parties such as the occupier of any adjacent building. 

A demolition can start after the Building Control Service has issued a local authority counter notice, or six weeks from the date the notice of intent was served.

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995

View a full list of Scheme Providers at GOV.UK