Building control approvals

You should get approval before you start work as you may have to fix any issues we find at your own expense.

Before you start work

It is illegal to start work without notifying us first. You might have to correct the work or pay a fine if you do not tell us about it. You will also need a certificate of compliance if you want to sell your home.

To help support applicants with the changes that commenced on 1 October 2023 by virtue of The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023, we have produced the following application forms and notices for use within the Borough. 

Building notice

​For minor work on single family houses such as garage conversions, toilet installations and small extensions, you don't need to submit any plans but you must be confident that the work being done will comply with building regulations.

You risk having to fix any issues after we have inspected if it is not correct.

Please note that the building notice procedure cannot be used for work in connection with a building to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies or where it is proposed to erect the building or extension over a sewer or drain shown on the relative map of public sewers. 7

In these cases, a full plans application will be required.

A building notice attracts a fee payable by the person by whom or on whose behalf the work is being carried out. It is payable at the time of submission of the notice.

The fee comprises a single payment which covers all necessary site visits until satisfactory completion of the work. The appropriate charge is dependant upon the type of work proposed.

One copy only of the notice should be completed by the person who intends to carry out the building work (the applicant) or their agent and submitted to the Local Authority.

Where the proposed work includes the erection of a new building or an extension, the notice must be accompanied with the following plans and particulars in accordance with the provisions of Building Regulations 13:

1. A block plan to a scale of not less than 1:1250 showing:

  • the size and position of the building, or the building as extended, and its relationship to adjoining boundaries,
  • the boundaries of the curtilage of the building and the size position and use of every other building within that curtilage,
  • the width and position of any street on or within the boundaries of the curtilage of the building or the building as extended,
  • the provision to be made for the drainage of the building or extension.

No construction details are submitted with a building notice, consequently, we are unable to issue a formal approval notice or advise you of any changes required to meet the Building Regulations prior to the work commencing on site.

You need to be aware that you will proceed with your development with less certainty as to its compliance than if the full plans route had been used and that the Local Authority may request at any time such plans in support of the Notice as are necessary for the discharge of their functions in relation to the building regulations.

These notes are for general guidance only. Particulars regarding the deposit of information are given in Regulation 13 of the Building Regulations 2010 † (as amended).

Full plans

If you choose to submit a full plans application, a building surveyor will examine your details and advise you of any changes required to meet the building regulations.

Site inspections of work in progress will then be carried out by the surveyor at the appropriate time for the various stages of the construction process.

In order to check your proposals for compliance with the building regulations as quickly as possible and to avoid unnecessary delays, we would ask that you supply the following information at the time of submitting your application.

A full plans submission attracts fees payable by the person by whom or on whose behalf the work is to be carried out.

Fees are payable in two stages and the first fee must accompany the deposit of the plans to cover their examination and subsequent issue of a decision notice.

The appropriate charge is dependent upon the type of work proposed. The second fee is payable after the first site inspection of work in progress and covers all necessary site visits until satisfactory completion of the work.

The full plans form is to be completed by the person who intends to carry out the building work (the applicant) or their agent and submitted to the Local Authority with plans and particulars in duplicate in accordance with the provisions of Building Regulations 14.

1. A block plan to a scale of not less than 1:1250 showing:

  • the size and position of the building, or the building as extended, and its relationship to adjoining boundaries,
  • the boundaries of the curtilage of the building and the size position and use of every other building within that curtilage,
  • the width and position of any street on or within the boundaries of the curtilage of the building or the building as extended,
  • the provision to be made for the drainage of the building or extension.

2. Any other plans necessary to show that the work will comply with the regulations

3. Where it is proposed to erect the building or extension over a sewer or drain shown on the relative map of public sewers, the precautions to be taken in building over the sewer or drain.

Regularisation

Unfortunately, there are occasions when an application is not submitted to the Authority and a development was neither authorised nor inspected. This often prejudices the sale of a property.

The Local Authority are able to assist in these circumstances by issuing a Regularisation Certificate for unauthorised work commenced since 11 November 1985. Such a certificate will be given in those instances where inspections by the Local Authority show that the unauthorised work complies with building legislation in force at the time the work was undertaken. A fee is payable for the service.

One copy of the form should be completed by the person who intends to apply for a Regularisation Certificate for unauthorised work carried out after 11 November 1985.

The applicant is the person on whose behalf the unauthorised work was carried out i.e the building's owner.

The application should be submitted to the Local Authority with plans showing the unauthorised work and any additional work required to be carried out to ensure that the unauthorised work complies with the requirements of the Building Regulations in force at the time the work was carried out.

A Regularisation certificate application attracts a fee payable by the person applying for the certificate and is payable at the time of the deposit of the application.

The fee comprises a single payment which covers any site visits necessary to determine the compliance of the unauthorised work. The appropriate charge is dependant upon the type of work previously carried out.

In accepting the application, the Authority may require the applicant to take such reasonable steps as they think appropriate to ascertain compliance with the relevant legislation.

When the Local Authority is satisfied as to the compliance of the unauthorised work, then a regularisation certificate may be given to the effect that compliance has been achieved with regard to the applicable regulations in force at the time the work was carried out.

Partner authority scheme (full plans)

For architects and designers who wish to partner with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council Building Control.

This enables us to plan check your building regulation application no​ matter where in the country the work is constructed.

This provides a more consistent interpretation of the regulations along with a good working relationship. For more information see LABC​.​

Please note: You cannot get approval for any work completed before 12 November 1985.

The easiest way to submit a Building Control application is online using the links below or by email to building_control@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

These are all free services which allow users to submit building regulation applications to the council's Building Control service.​

Further documentation can also be found below: