Full Plans application

This is the most thorough option and gives you most protection. If we're satisfied your application meets our building regulation standards, we'll send you an 'approval notice'.

The approval is valid for three years from the date the plans are submitted. Work can begin as soon as two days after you've submitted your application, but you cannot be certain that any work carried out before you have formal approval complies with building regulations. If you also need planning permission, do not start work until you've got this.

With your application, you'll need to include:

  • all detailed plans, sections and elevations, incorporating all necessary technical notes, supporting calculations and specifications
  • a 1:1250 scale plan showing the size and position of the building, or the building as extended, and its relationship to adjoining boundaries (sometimes known as 'block plans')
  • Payment

If your plans comply with the building regulations, an approval notice will be issued within 5 weeks or you may be asked to make amendments or provide more details. Alternatively, a conditional approval may be issued.

After you've submitted your application, you must let us know when work starts.

We'll come to inspect the work at various stages to make sure it meets the building regulations standards. We will explain about the notification procedures which the regulations require you to follow at various stages of the work, for example, in connection with foundations, damp proof courses and drains.

Once work is complete and a final inspection has been carried out, we will issue you with a completion certificate provided we are content that the completed work complies with the building regulations. There are fees for this service.

Apply for a Full Plans approval


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