Householders' Guide to the Building Regulation Charges

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The Building Act 1984
The Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 2010
Effective from 1st October 2010

  1. Before you build, extend or convert, you or your agent (i.e. Architect, Builder, Developer etc.) must advise HPBC either by submitting Full Plans or through a Building Notice.
  2. If you submit Full Plans HPBC Building Control Services will examine them and normally advise you of any necessary changes required to meet the Building Regulations. Building Control Surveyors inspect the work at various stages during construction.
  3. If you submit a satisfactory Building Notice with a notice of commencement, work can start two days later. Building Control Surveyors will visit the site at intervals to ensure the work conforms to Building Regulations.
  4. Charges are payable as follows:
    1. Should you submit Full Plans for approval the overall charge is split; you will pay part of the charge to cover the processing of the plans and the remainder to cover the inspection of the work to which the plans relate.
    2. Should you submit a Building Notice you will pay a Building Notice charge which is payable when the notice is given to the local authority. This is a once and for all payment irrespective of the number of visits made by the Building Control Surveyor.
    3. Should you apply for a Regularisation Certificate in respect of unauthorised building work, you will pay a regularisation charge to cover the cost of assessing your application and all inspections.
  5. Full Plan submissions, Building Notices and applications for Regularisation Certificates submitted to the local authority must be accompanied by the appropriate amount payable otherwise the application or notice cannot be considered submitted and work should not commence. All other charges payable will be charged following the first inspection of the work to which the application relates.
  6. When the proposed work comprises or includes one or more extensions to a building, the floor areas will be aggregated (up to a maximum of 100m2) when determining the Table B charge payable.
  7. Where plans have been rejected a further charge may not be payable on a resubmission. Consult with High Peak Building Control Services before resubmitting your plan.
  8. There is no charge made for certain submissions. These are:
    1. Work to provide access and facilities for people with disabilities in dwellings and buildings to which the public has access.
  9. The amount of charges payable depends upon the type of work, the number of dwellings in a building and the total floor area. The accompanying schedules may be used in conjunction with the charges regulations to calculate the charge. If you have any difficulties calculating the charges, please consult High Peak Building Control Services. With the exception of the Regularisation Charge, all High Peak Borough Council charges are subject to VAT, at the appropriate rate.
  10. These notes are for guidance only and do not substitute for Statutory Instrument 2010 0404 which contains the full statement of the law.