When we receive a Building regulation full plans application or a Building Notice, Development Services follow the steps described below.
Over the next few weeks, Development Services will start making wider use of email communications for building regulations submissions. Where customers provide us with an email address we will use this as the primary means of communication with them where possible.
Validation
We will check whether we have all the information we need. We will check the Wessex water sewer maps to check you are not developing within 3m of a public sewer, and that you have paid the correct fee. A building Notice may not be submitted where the work is proposed within 3m of a public sewer.
If your application is invalid we will contact you by letter within three working days, identifying what you need to provide for us to validate it so it will be ready for registration.
Registration and scanning
Once the application has been validated, it will be registered and an acknowledgement sent to you or your agent. The application will then be scanned and the plans forwarded to our surveyors for checking.
Consultation
We will consult Wessex water, Avon fire Brigade and internal services such Environmental health.
Assessment of the application
We will assess your application against the national building regulations and any other relevant guidance. If the Building Control surveyor has any queries or matters that requires further clarification you will receive a letter within 15 working days from the date of receipt of the application.
Making a decision
We will make a decision on your application within five weeks (or eight weeks if you agree to the extension of time) from the date a complete application is received. Generally an application is given a decision within three to five weeks.
How decisions are made
Building Control Surveyors make the decision not a committee. The application maybe Approved, Approved with conditions or Rejected. If plans are rejected, a revised application maybe submitted without an additional fee.
Site inspections
Once an application is received and validated works may commence on site. Our surveyors will visit the site on average 8 times through out the project. An inspection framework is included on our acknowledgement letter and the owner is responsible for making sure we are notified at the right stages to inspect the work as it progresses. We would recommend that work does not commence until the application is approved.
You can contact Development Services, by either phoning our customer care officers or by emailing us. Contact details can be found on the right hand side of this page.