Rated ExcellentBuilding regulation in the United Kingdom
An approval from building regulations is required for nearly all buildings work in the United Kingdom. The building control department in all local authorities acts out as an independent evaluator of developments and proposals. In the Building Act 1984 and Building (Scotland) Act 2003 the building regulations are set out for England, Wales, and Scotland respectively. The Building Control department makes sure that everything complies with the legal requirements, like the plan, construction and insulation materials, workman who are authorised to go on the construction site and other requirements needed to fulfil the building regulations laid down by the parliament.
The Local authority building office will deal with all the self-build projects. Building regulations apply for every new change or modification in the building or a new part of a building. An approval from building regulations is not required if you are renovating the existing element of the building however there are certain conditions for changes and upgrades. Some of the conditions are as follows
- That the work done should not be less satisfying in accordance with the work prior to changes.
- The areas where the work is going on should not be kept in unsafe conditions.
- Only a qualified professional can work on certain things like electric, gas and other specified matters by building regulations.
In a few cases, you might need building regulations approval for certain alteration projects like
- Replacing windows and doors
- Replacing fuse box
- If plumbing is required to install a new bathroom
- If you want to change electrics near showers
- If you want to add extra radiators or install and replace a heating system
Always check with the building control body near you to make sure if you need approval for the work you are planning to do. You can find the detailed information on the building regulations in the links below
Building Regulations in England
Building Standards in Scotland
With all construction elements, a detailed plan should be submitted to the building control department. Once you pay the fee and submit all the required details, the local authority will either approve or reject your plan within a certain time limit. They can also add a few conditions with your agreement to their approval. If they reject the construction plan you have submitted, then you can apply for review.
Planning permission and Building regulation are separate from each other. Building regulations control the design and modification standards on the civic grounds to ensure the health and safety of people in and around the building, sustainability, and energy conservation. Whereas planning permission is concerned with the appearance and land usage in the required area. Therefore, everything should be properly analysed, and applications should be made accordingly.