Pre-site approval

What is an application for full plans?

You can apply for building regulations approval from your local authority building control service by submitting a Application for building control approval with full plans (also known as a full plans application). This allows the authority to check and approve work prior to commencement of the development, preventing issues before they occur.

When are full plans required?

Full plans applications are often used for larger schemes and complex work.

If the work contains any of the following, then you will always require full plans:

• For building work in relation to a building to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005¹ applies or will apply after the completion of the building work.
• For work which will be built close to or over the top of rainwater and foul drains shown on the 'map of sewers'
• Where a new building will front onto a private street.

Information required

An application for full plans requires detailed information and plans about the work. The level of detail depends on the size of the development.

An application deposited under this procedure needs to contain plans and other information showing all construction details, preferably well in advance of when work is to start on site.

Timeline

Your local authority will check your plans and consult any appropriate authorities (e.g. fire and sewerage). They must complete the procedure by issuing you with a decision within five weeks or, if you agree, a maximum of two months from the date of deposit.

Fee

The fee for submitting an application for full plans will vary depending on the authority and level of work.

What happens next

If your plans comply with the building regulations, you will receive a notice stating that they have been approved. If your local authority is not satisfied you may be asked to make amendments or provide more details. Alternatively, a conditional approval may be issued. This will either specify modifications which must be made to the plans; or will specify further plans which must be deposited with your authority.

Your local authority may only apply conditions if you have either requested them to do so or have consented to them doing so. A request or consent must be made in writing. If your plans are rejected the reasons will be stated in the notice. A full plans approval notice is valid for three years from the date the plans were deposited, after which the local authority may send you a notice to declare the approval of no effect if the building work has not commenced.

Your local authority will carry out inspections of the building work once it is in progress. They will explain about the notification procedures which the regulations require you to follow at various stages of the work - e.g. in connection with foundations, damp proof courses and drains. In addition, if you request one when you first make your application, the local authority will issue you with a completion certificate provided they are content that the completed work complies with the building regulations.

Legislation

To find out more about an application for building control approval with full plans, read Section 14 of The Building Regulations 2010 (as amended)² of the legislation for more details.

1. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541/contents
2. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214/regulation/14