What building control do I need?

At HollandGreen, we can take control of the whole Building Control application process, from generating Building Control Drawings and Specifications, to commissioning Structural Drawings and Calculations.  We’ll then run the whole process through the Building Control Plans submission to approval, so that you can be confident that the final design and structure not only meets your aspirations but also the increasingly challenging Building Regulations.

Below, we’ve put together a quick and easy guide to understanding the level of building control you need for different types of project work.

Extensions and Loft Conversions

Any extension to a house requires Building Regulations approval and will need to be inspected during construction. The conversion of a roof space into a habitable room or rooms also requires Building Regulation approval and inspection.

Converting the loft into a habitable space is regarded as adding an extra floor to the property and may affect Part B of Building Regulation, fire safety (this often results in the need to enclose the stairwell at lower levels and the need to install fire doors and self-closing mechanisms to all existing doors that separate the stairwell from existing and new habitable spaces). Extensions and loft conversions may also be subject to the Party Wall Act 1996.

Internal Alterations & Garage Conversion into a Habitable Space

Building Regulations approval is required when building work involves internal alterations to the structure of the building, for example, the removal of load-bearing walls to create an open-plan space, which in turn could affect escape or other fire precautions (Part B of Building Regulations).

The conversion of a garage into a habitable space also requires Building Regulations approval, and the existing structure must be brought in line with today’s detailed Building Regulation standard, including thermal and sound insulation.

Construction of Porches & Conservatories

The decision on whether a conservatory or porch extension is exempt is a matter for building control bodies on a case by case basis. However, Building Regulation Approval is typically not required for the construction of porches and conservatories, if they satisfy all of the following conditions:

• It must be built at ground level & be single storey
• It must not exceed 30m in floor area
• Glazing must comply with Part K
• The thermal separation between the building and the conservatory or porch must be maintained,
• The building’s heating system must not be extended into the conservatory or porch.

Moreover, generally conservatories must have at least 75% translucent roof and 50% translucent walls and have a separating door to the main property. While with porches, the existing front entrance door must stay in place.

Small, detached buildings, such as a garden sheds, greenhouses or summerhouses, do not usually require Building Regulation Approval, as long as the floor area is less than 15 sqm and contains no sleeping accommodation. Garages and carports are slightly more complicated and would need further assessment.