Building Regulations

Building regulations are requirements designed to ensure the health and safety of people in and around buildings.

They provide for energy conservation and access and facilities for disabled people. Other matters such as structure, fire safety, ventilation, drainage,sound insulation and electrical safety in the home are also included in the regulations.

Phone 0151 356 6688 to find out whether you need Building Regulations Approval for the work you intend to carry out.

If approval is required, a building regulations application form must be completed and submitted to the council with your plans and relevant fee. Alternatively, you may elect to apply using the Buiding Notice procedure (subject to certain conditions). Building control surveyors will look at the technical details and if they are satisfied that the work to be carried out fulfils building regulations, approval/acceptance will be granted and work can begin.

The work is inspected at various stages of the building's construction by the borough council's building control surveyors. All requests for site inspections are carried out within 24 hours notice and a certificate issued upon satisfactory completion (full plans applications only).

What building work is covered by the building regulations?

Under the regulations "building work" means: -

The erection or extension of a building;

The provision or extension of a controlled service or fitting in or in connection with a building;

The material alteration of a building, or a controlled service or fitting;

Work relating to material change of use;

The insertion of insulating material into the cavity wall of a building;

Work involving the underpinning of a building.

The above is not an exhaustive list, other building work may require building regulations approval.

You should always check before starting work whether or not you need building regulations approval (Tel: 0151 356 6688).

It may also be prudent to check with the Development Control Section whether Planning Permission is required (Tel. 0151 356 6683).

Where can I get advice?

Unless you have a reasonable working knowledge of building construction it is a good idea to get professional advice from an architect, structural engineer or building surveyor before the planned work is started. Contact the council's Building Control Section (Tel: 0151 356 6688) for general advice and procedural matters relating to your development. Phone 0151 356 6683 if you need to check whether you also need planning permission .

Legislation Changes

The Building Regulations 2000 (1) came into force on the 1st January 2001, Statutory Instrument number 2531 which superseded the 1991 Regulations (as amended).

(1) As amended by S.I. 2001/3335; 2002/440; 2002/2871; 2003/3133; 2004/1465; 2004/3210; 2006/652 and 2006/3318.