Guidance on Building Regulation Charges for newly constructed dwellings and the conversion of existing buildings to dwellings
The Building Act 1984
The Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 1998
Effective from 1 January 2005
- Before you build, extend or convert, you or your agent (i.e. Architect, Builder, Developer etc.) must advise High Peak Borough Council either by submitting Full Plans or through a Building Notice.
- If you submit Full Plans High Peak Borough Council's Building Control Service 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.
- 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.
- Charges are payable as follows:-
- 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.
- 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.
- 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. The regularisation charge shall be 20% greater than the Building Notice charge.
- Whether you choose to deposit Full Plans or a Building Notice the total charge payable is the same.
- 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.
- Where plans have either been approved or rejected a further charge may not be payable on a resubmission. Consult with High Peak Building Control Services before resubmitting your plan.
- There is no charge made for certain submissions. These are:-
- Insertion of insulating material into an existing cavity wall, providing the installation is certified to an approved standard and the work is carried out by an approved installer.
- When an approved unvented hot water system is installed by an approved installer or is part of a larger project.
- Work to provide access and facilities for people with disabilities in dwellings and buildings to which the public has access.
- 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.
- These notes are for guidance only and do not substitute for Statutory Instrument 1998 3129 which contains the full statement of the law.
