10th October 2022
Roger Hannah
Building control and planning permission are two individual forms of service, which 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 outstanding 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 as well as 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 of residential property will need to comply including replacing windows, electrical works and even new bathrooms. As a result, they will need to be given an approval by a Building Control Body (council or approved inspector) unless a registered installer implements it and certifies the works are compliant.
Planning Permission
Basically described, planning permission is about making a decision on whether a development – however big or small – should go ahead. This is a decision that will be made by your local planning authority. 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 uses and the appearance of the building.