Most new
buildings or
major
changes to
existing
buildings or
to the local
environment
need consent
- known as
planning
permission.
Obtaining
planning
permission
approval is
a separate
matter from
building
regulations
approval.Similarly,
receiving
any planning
permission
which your
work may
require is
not the same
as taking
action to
ensure that
it complies
with the
building
regulations.
You may not need to
apply for planning
permission:
for repairs or
maintenance;
for minor
improvements,such as
painting yourhouse or
replacing windows;
for internal
alterations;
for the insertion of
windows,skylights or
roof lights (but,if you
want to create a new bay
window, it will be
treated as an extension
of the house
to re-roof your house
but additions to the
roof are treated as
extensions
Building
regulations
The
Building Regulations are
made under powers
provided in the Building
Act 1984, and apply in
England and Wales. The
current edition of the
regulations is The
Building Regulations
2000 (as amended) and
the majority of building
projects are required to
comply with them. They
exist to ensure the
health and safety of
people in and around all
types of buildings
(i.e. domestic,
commercial and
industrial). They also
provide for energy
conservation, and access
to and use of buildings
It is important to
understand how the
building regulatory
system applies to your
situation as you are
responsible for making
sure that the work
complies with the
regulations if you are
carrying out building
work personally. If you
are employing a builder,
the responsibility will
usually be theirs - but
you should confirm this
at the very beginning,
we at Court Home
Extensions it appointed
the works contract take
full responsibility. You
should also bear in mind
that if you are the
owner of the building,
it is ultimately you who
may be served with an
enforcement notice if
the work does not comply
with the regulations.
The
following
types of
project
amount
to
'Building
Work' as
defined
in
Regulation
3 of the
Building
Regulations:
-
The
erection
of
an
extension
on a
building
-
The
installation
or
extension
of a
service
or
fitting
which
is
controlled
under
the
regulations
-
An
alteration
project
involving
work
which
will
temporarily
or
permanently
affect
the
ongoing
compliance
of
the
building,
service
or
fitting
with
the
requirements
relating
to
structure,
fire,
or
access
to
and
use
of
buildings
-
The
insertion
of
insulation
into
a
cavity
wall
-
The
underpinning
of
the
foundations
of a
building
If
you are
planning
to carry
out such
work,
then it
should
comply
with the
Building
Regulations.
