Designers, customers, and those responsible for carrying out construction work can expect the following from the Building Control Service
1. Guidance and Advice
The service provides guidance on the interpretation of the Building Regulations, helping designers to ensure that their designs comply with the relevant statutory requirements.
2. Plan Assessment
The service reviews and assesses submitted plans for compliance with Building Regulations, issuing approval when the plans are deemed to demonstrate compliance with the relevant regulations or rejecting them if they are deemed to be deficient. Where plans are rejected, Building Control will set out in writing why the plans are not being approved, within a reasonable timescale, giving designers the opportunity to submit amended plans for approval. Plan approval is limited to work controlled under the Building Regulations.
3. Site Inspections
Building Control carries out limited site inspections, at key stages, as part of a regulatory function to help establish that the work is being carried out in accordance with the relevant Building Regulations. It is the contractor's responsibility to ensure that the work, as constructed, complies with the relevant Building Regulations.
4. Dangerous Buildings
Where it comes to the attention of the Building Control Service that buildings adjacent to public roads or pavements are potentially dangerous to passersby, the service will act to make owners aware of their statutory responsibilities to maintain their property to protect public safety. If necessary, they will liaise with others to help ensure that members of the public on roads or pavements are protected from such dangers until they are adequately dealt with.
5. Enforcement
Where it comes to the Building Control Service's attention that building work has been carried out without application, or in contravention of Building Regulations, or where in scope dangerous buildings are not being made safe, the service will carry out proportionate enforcement in line with recognised best practice. Building Control will offer people the opportunity to make amends where inadvertent errors have occurred whilst recommending prosecution if wilful or persistent breaches of Building Regulations are encountered.
6. Certification
Once the client or builder has demonstrated, to the Council's satisfaction, that the work has been completed to meet the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations, the Building Control Service will issue a Completion Certificate.
