What Is The Difference Between Planning Permission & Building Control

Building control and planning permission are two individual forms of service that can determine the construction and appearance of buildings.

For the majority of building work, two distinct applications are needed in order to be granted consent for planning applications and building regulations. If you are putting up a new permanent building or altering an existing one from a structural viewpoint, building regulation consent will be needed. Simply put, this deals with how the building is constructed. It is then up to planning permission as to whether the green light can be given for the build in the first place. All major building works will need planning permission from the local council; however, many minor works may not.

It can often be hard to determine whether you need building approval or planning permission so it is always best to seek advice from professionals of your Council’s development control team before moving ahead with the project.

Building Control

The Building Control is carried out to guarantee that any new building work aligns with the building regulations. This is done by reviewing the plans and details submitted with an application and then inspecting the construction work as it progresses on site. Regulations are typically intended to conserve energy, safeguard health and safety, and provide access and facilities for disabled people.

These regulations set a minimum standard for design, construction and alterations to practically every building. You will often find that most jobs inside a residential property will require compliance, including replacing windows, electrical work, and even new bathrooms. As a result, they will require approval from a building control body (council or approved inspector) unless a registered installer implements it and certifies the work is compliant.

Planning Permission

Basically described, planning permission is about making a decision on whether a development, however big or small, should go ahead. Your local planning authority will make a decision on this. As mentioned above, however, small development projects don’t always have to go through the full approval process, and they are otherwise known as ‘permitted developments’. Generally speaking, planning controls the siting, design, location, layout, land use, and appearance of the building.