How to Submit an Application

There are two ways in which you can give the required notice that you are going to carry out building work:
• a Full Plans Application or
• a Building Notice

All electrical work must be designed, installed, inspected and tested by a person competent to do so. A completion certificate will not be issued unless the Council is satisfied that Part P (Electrical safety in dwellings) has been complied with.

Charges apply to all Building Regulations applications.

Download building application forms and charges

Full Plans Application

Must be used for any building that is over or within 3 metres of a public sewer as shown on the map of sewers .N.B. the map of sewers is available from Thames water Tel 0118 923 6631 and from Environment direct , Civic Centre B Block reception Tel 0208 379 3505

This involves the deposit of detailed plans and specifications for the work. The plans are checked in detail and if found to be satisfactory, an approval notice is issued.
The application should contain:
• Three copies of the detailed drawings of the proposed building work, or four copies for buildings covered by fire safety legislation. The plans should be drawn to scale of not less than 1:100.
• Two copies of a site or location plan drawn to a scale of not less than 1:1250 which shows the proposal, site boundaries, and the position of public sewers.
• Two (or four) copies of any specification that accompanies the drawings.
• Where four copies of plans are required, fire safety drawings must be included showing: fire resistance; compartmentation; fire detection and alarms; emergency lighting; means of escape and signage.
• Two copies of structural design and calculations.
• The completed application form, an estimate of the cost of work, and the appropriate fee.

The advantage of a full plans application is that it is checked in detail and a formal decision notice is issued.

Building Notice

This procedure involves only giving details on the Building Notice form and providing a block plan.
A Building Notice submission must include:
• A completed Building Notice form.
• If the proposal is for a new building or extension to a site, a plan to a scale of not less than 1:1250 showing: location; boundaries of site; drainage and any public sewers.
• The appropriate fee and estimate if required.

Additional information may be required to be submitted, in particular structural calculations are required for all Loft conversions and some extensions.

Please note: a Building Notice may not be used for any building subject to fire safety legislation, i.e. most commercial, industrial and retail premises. Nor may it be used for any houses fronting onto private streets (this excludes most new houses) or for any building that is over or within 3 metres of a public sewer as shown on the map of sewers. .N.B the map of sewers is available from Thames water Tel 0118 923 6631 and from Environment direct , Civic Centre B Block reception Tel 0208 379 3505.

Building Notices are most suited to small domestic works but can be used for new houses or extensions. No formal decisions are issued but your Building Notice will be acknowledged. We may ask for plans of the work, or calculations to show that the Regulations are being complied with.

We can require detailed plans and information to be submitted if the works are not straightforward. This might include complicated loft conversions, for example. Delays will occur in either kind of application if the forms are not completed, the required information is not submitted or if the correct fee is not enclosed.

This document was last updated on 2007-11-21 14:26:32 published by the Planning team. Document Reference:LBE_118220