Apply for building regulation approval

Before starting any building work to your property you should check if you require a building regulations application.

For all building projects subject to a building notice or application for Building Control approval with full plans, no matter how small, the client will now have to make suitable arrangements for planning, managing and monitoring a project throughout its run so as to ensure compliance with The Building Regulations. In order to do this they must appoint a Principal contractor and a Principal designer who are competent to undertake the work in accordance with regulation 11F and 11G and provide full details of those appointed to Building Control and advise of any subsequent changes in these roles.

If the client fails to do so the designer in control of the design phase of the project will automatically become the principal designer, and the contractor in control of the construction phase of the project will become the principal contractor. The specific duties of these parties are set out in Part 2A and Chapter 4 of the regulations, it is strongly recommended that you are familiar with duties.

The changes also require the submission of additional information when giving an application for building control approval with full plans (formerly referred to as a full plans application) and for this reason we will be temporarily suspending the use of our online application portal. Details of these changes can be found in Regulation 14 and include but are not limited to the following:

• Full details of the applicant, client and principal designer and where known the principal contractor
• The height of the building and number of storeys before and after the work
• Details of the current and intended use of each storey
• New revisions under Regulation 46A lapse of building control approval outlining when a building project is considered “commenced” and requiring a statement setting out—(aa) the date when it is proposed the work will reach the point when it is to be regarded as commenced in accordance with regulation 46A (lapse of building control approval: commencement of work and
  (bb) where the work does not consist of work to which paragraph (2) or (3) of regulation 46A applies, details of the work which the client considers amounts to 15% of the proposed work.

There are also changes in statutory time limits relating to decision dates these will now be between a minimum of 5 weeks and any time as agreed in writing by both the applicant and the Local Authority.

Other changes include additional requirements surrounding the start of work and additional information that will need to be submitted on completion of works. These include but are not limited to:

• The names and contact details of the client, principal designer and principal contractor
• A statement, signed by the client, confirming that to the best of the client’s knowledge the work complies with all applicable requirements of the building regulations
• A statement, signed, from all principal contractors and principal designers involved in the project, with dates and details of which aspects of work they are/were responsible for and confirming that they fulfilled their duties under Part 2A of the regulations

There are similar requirements relating to commercial buildings that are to be occupied prior to completion.

Other changes of note include:

• Works being considered unauthorised if no notice of commencement has been given in accordance with Regulation 16
• Changes in the appeal process
• The need to supply fire safety information on occupation or completion
• Increased emphasis energy performance specifically requiring the submission of energy efficiency calculations prior to starting work on site.

The above is only a very limited summary of some of the new requirements and is by no means complete. For a greater understanding you should review the full guidance  below and discuss how best you approach them with your own legal advisors, professional organisations and peer groups

Building Safety ebulletin: Building Control – secondary legislation & new guidance update (govdelivery.com)

The Building Regulations (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023 (legislation.gov.uk) 

Fees and charges

North Norfolk District Council's fees and charges was approved by Full Council in December 2023 and is available to view, during office hours, at the Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer.

The North Norfolk District Council Building Control Fees and Charges scheme has been updated and a new version comes into force for applications submitted on or after 1 April 2024.

For further details of the scheme changes please contact building.control@north-norfolk.gov.uk

• Dwellings, domestic extensions and alterations
• Commercial, industrial and other non-domestic work

How to pay

When we have processed your application we will supply you with a reference number and the required amount to pay. When you have received this information you can make a secure online payment by selecting the button below.

Make payment

Other ways to apply

Following the changes in regulations detailed above, our online form is being updated to include the new requirements. However you can still use one of the options below.