Following building regulations

Rule of law
Building regulation approval should not be confused with planning permission. They are two separate pieces of legislation and some projects may require both approvals. Others will need either one or the other.

Subject to certain exemptions, you need to comply with building regulations if you are erecting or extending a building. You also need to comply if you are making structural alterations to a building, including underpinning, removing a chimney breast, putting in a new window or door opening and removing an internal load-bearing wall.

The provision, extension or alteration of sanitary equipment, drainage, and certain heating and hot water systems requires compliance with building regulations, too.

If you're proposing a change of use for an existing building you'll have to comply, as you will when proposing access to and facilities within a building for people with disabilities.

The addition of insulation material in the cavity of an external wall also requires compliance with building regulations.

How to comply
You have two routes to achieve compliance. The first method involves submitting full detailed plans, together with the appropriate forms and plan charge to the local planning department. The building control surveyors will examine the plans and, if the technical details accord with the building regulations, a notice of approval will be issued.

When work commences, and at various other stages of construction, your builder is required to notify the council. Inspections will be made to ensure that the works, including foundations, damp proof courses and drains are carried out satisfactorily. When the works are complete, a final inspection will be made and a certificate of completion issued if the works conform to the building regulations.

The second method is suited to structural alterations and small additions to residential property. There is no requirement to submit detailed plans but you do need to complete a building notice form, indicating your proposals and provide a scale block plan. This plan should show the position and size of any extensions and acceptance of your notice should take approximately two days.

Your builder is then required to notify the council at various stages of the work and all the necessary inspections will be carried out. When the work is complete your builder should request a final inspection and, if all the work is satisfactory, a certificate of completion will be issued.

The drawback of this method is that you do not have the benefit of prior approval of your scheme, as you do with the full plans route. Modification or alteration of your proposals may therefore be required as the work proceeds.

Exemptions
Not all work has to comply with Building Regulations. Small, detached buildings that contain no sleeping accommodation, greenhouses, porches, conservatories and carports are usually exempt. But check first with your local planning department.