Customer Access Point, Stowmarket, closed
Due to unforeseen circumstances the Customer Access Point in Stowmarket is currently closed.
For any queries please phone Customer Services on 0300 123 4000 or visit one of our other Customer Access Points
Application Types
We have four types of applications you can make:
- Building Control Approval with Full Plans
- Building Notice
- Regularisation
- Reversion
Building Control Approval with Full Plans
An application with full plans can be used for all types of building works. It is our most common type of application. One of our surveyors will be assigned your application and will review your plans before you start. They will check if your plans meet regulations and will approve or reject your application. We aim to provide comments within 3 weeks and approve your plans within 8 weeks.
You will need to submit the following:
- application form
- quoted fee
- detailed scaled drawings including, site and/or location plan and, where necessary, associated structural calculations and/or connectivity plan
- detailed written specifications of the construction
If approved, you will receive an approval notification with a schedule of building regulation inspection notifications detailing the minimum number of site inspections we will need to make. We advise you not to start any work until you have received the approval notice. You will be issued a completion certificate following a satisfactory final inspection and receipt of the completion notice.
The application with full plans procedure must be used if the building is:
- a workplace under Part II of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997
- to be put to a designated use under section 1 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971
- to be erected fronting on to a private street
- to be erected over a sewer
Building Notice
A Building Notice can be submitted for lots of different building works, although these are normally minor in nature. We require at least 48 hours notice before the work starts.
You will need to submit the following:
- application form
- quoted fee
- If required for your work, plans, any structural calculations and connectivity plans
You will receive an approval notification with a schedule of building regulation inspection notifications outlining the required site inspections and we will issue you a completion certificate following a satisfactory final inspection and receipt of the completion notice.
Regularisation
A regularisation certificate is issued for retrospective approval for work already carried out without consent. You may be selling your home or require evidence of compliance of building regulations. Only work carried out after 11 November 1985 can be approved in this way.
You will need to submit the following:
- application form
- quoted fee
- fully detailed plans and documents to show compliance
- date work completed
It’s important to note, you don’t need to apply for this, and we can reject this application or we may not issue the certificate if the work does not comply.
If accepted, we may need to inspect your property in detail, including opening the work to check its compliance. You might need to make alterations before we can agree the work complies and give you a regularisation certificate. You may have to correct the work or pay a fine if building regulations are not followed.
Reversion
If you have used a Registered Building Control Approver to check the work meets Building Regulations, an Initial Notice is sent to the local authority building control. If the Registered Building Control Approver is no longer able to do the job or the Initial Notice lapses or ceases to be in force, and no new Initial Notice is sent in, the work will automatically revert to the local authority’s control.
If this happens, the Registered Building Control Approver is no longer able to inspect any building works or issue any statutory notices to you, including any final or part final certificates.
Where the work has NOT started
You should contact us to ensure the Initial Notice has been cancelled which will allow another approved body, such as your local authority building control team, to undertake the regulatory work and ensures our records are updated to prevent any issues with conveyancing.
Where the work HAS started
You should contact us to ensure the Initial Notice has been cancelled and make arrangements to address any outstanding issues so that the project can continue to be inspected and certificated.
If a new Initial Notice is not submitted within 7 days of the original Initial Notice being cancelled, lapsed or ceasing to be in force the work will, by law, be passed (reverted) back to the local authority building control.
At that point you will need to arrange a site visit by one of our Registered Building Inspectors to:
- assess the status of work
- confirm what will need to be done to obtain a completion certificate
- determine our fee
We aim to work with you to ensure works can be approved and appropriate certification issued.
What if I do not submit a cancellation notice?
A person who fails to submit a cancellation notice, without a reasonable excuse, in the case of a Registered Building Control Approver no longer being able to carry out their building control function, may be fined.
Apply
- Download Cancellation Notice in Microsoft Word format
- Download Cancellation Notice in an alternative PDF format
Please download, print and fill in the required form/s and send the completed forms to us by email
Alternative, please post to:
Babergh and Mid Suffolk Building Control
Endeavour House
8 Russell Road
Ipswich
IP1 2BX