Gaining Approval
The Building Regulation approval process is split into two main parts:
Submitting an application
Work on site
If building regulation approval is needed an application must be deposited prior to starting work. There are two types of application the Full Plan application and the Building Notice application.
Full Plan applications
Full plan applications can be used for all types of building work. Two copies (four for non-domestic work) of full building plans and details are deposited together with the full plan application form, and the appropriate charge. Charges are detailed on the scheme of charges form that can be downloaded with the Full Plan application form.
We will acknowledge receipt of the application and send you full guidance notes. We will then check the submitted details for compliance with the Building Regulations. All applications are checked within the statutory period of 5 weeks. We may then request additional information or amendments from you or your agent.
To allow the submission of additional information and / or amendment details the deadline may be extended to two months from the deposit date.
Once we are satisfied that the plans show compliance with the regulations we will issue an approval notice. If minor amendments or information is required we will conditionally approve the application to save the need for a new re-submitted application. The outstanding conditions can then be cleared when the information is available.
The main advantage of the Full Plan application is the security and potential financial saving gained by building to an approved application. You and your builder know that the work shown on the approved plans complies with the Building Regulations and so you can build with confidence.
Building work may start 24 hours after we receive the Full Plans application, although all work is carried out at your own risk until full approval is gained. Please refer to the work on site section.
Building Notice applications
This type of application is only suitable for small domestic alterations. It cannot be used for commercial work.
The procedure is very simple, you complete and return the Building Notice application form, together with the appropriate charge and an outline of the proposed work. Charges are detailed on the Scheme of charges guidance form that can be downloaded with the Building Notice form.
The main advantage of this type of application is that full building plans and details do not have to be prepared. The Notice is not approved or rejected and so building work progresses on site without the protection of a formal approval notice. We will however acknowledge receipt of the notice and send you detailed guidance notes. We may ask you for additional information if we feel the project is complex and needs more detailed consideration.
Please note that some Finance Houses, Banks and Building Societies do not favour this type of application. Building work may start 24 hours after we receive the Building Notice. Please refer to the work on site section.
Charges
Building Control is a self-financing service. Legislation requires us to set charges to recover our costs. The charges can be downloaded.
Please note that Planning Permission may be required before work can start on site. Please check with the Planning Department at customer.services@bracknell-forest.gov.uk for information about Planning issues.
When you have submitted an application and you are ready to commence work you must notify us at various stages of the work. This will depend on what work is being carried out and will be detailed in the guidance notes you will receive with the acknowledgement letter.
The following are the usual stages of work that we inspect:
- Commencement of work.
- Foundation excavations.
- Foundation concrete.
- Damp proof courses.
- Floors before covering with oversite fill.
- Damp proof membranes.
- Drains before covering.
- Intermediate floor structures.
- Roofs.
- Major structural members i.e. beams and columns.
- Occupation.
- Completion.
In addition to the above we will usually ask for pressure tests of all drainage, and tests of fire detection and alarm systems.
If you contact us by 10am we can usually call the same day. You can request an inspection by contacting us using these details:
Bracknell Forest Borough Council
Building Control
Time Square
Market Street
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 1JD
Tel: 01344 352 000
Fax: 01344 351 193
Email: Building.control@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
Completion Certificates
When work is complete we will issue a Completion Certificate free of charge. This certificate is required by solicitors as part of the house sale process to prove that the work complies with the Building Regulations.
Work carried out without an application
If you have carried out work without submitting an application you may be able to apply for a Regularisation Certificate.
If, after looking at the work on site, we are happy that it satisfies the Building Regulations we will issue a formal Regularisation Certificate. The Certificate may be used when selling a house to show that the work complies with the Building Regulations.
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