Applications for Building Regulations

COVID-19 Temporary Building Control Service

Currently, Canolfan Rheidol, Aberystwyth and County Hall, Aberaeron is closed to all but essential staff.

There is a contact point however for Ceredigion County Council Building Control Service available on 01545 572 484 or buildingcontrol@ceredigion.gov.uk.

Building Regulation applications may be submitted electronically via the above e-mail address, with an application form being available by download or by e-mail request.

Please note that currently, in view of the COVID-19 outbreak, the submission of non-electronic applications will not be processed until normal working practice has resumed.

Please arrange payment of applications online by clicking the link and following the steps below:

www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/online-payments

Follow these steps

Step 1 Click Online Payments
Step 2 Click Other
Step 3 Click Building Control
Step 4 Choose which one that is applicable to you
Step 5 Fill in details

Neither a full plans nor building notice application will be treated as submitted or processed until the relevant charge has been paid.

We take our responsibility to protect our colleagues and customers seriously. As such this means that Building Control team members will not be permitted to attend sites unless absolutely necessary.

We are mindful however, that critical inspections will be required and for attending Dangerous Structures. These will be dealt with along with our partners in emergency services and with measures that include social distancing.

Officers are contactable in the normal manner via e-mail or mobile phones.

Roger Turner 07977 270 043 - roger.turner@ceredigion.gov.uk
Huw Herberts 07977 270 044 - huw.herberts@ceredigion.gov.uk
Richard Stevens 07977 270 045 - richard.stevens@ceredigion.gov.uk
Geraint Williams 07977 270 048 - geraint.williams@ceredigion.gov.uk
John Griffiths 07977 270 047 - john.griffiths@ceredigion.gov.uk

Building Regulations are legal requirements laid down by Parliament to ensure adequate standards of building work in the construction of domestic and commercial buildings.

Do I need Building Regulations?

You will need to apply for Building Regulations if you intend to do any of the following:

When you erect or extend a building.
When you materially alter a building e.g. carry out structural alterations.
When you extend or alter a controlled service within a building e.g. install a WC.
When you want to change the building's fundamental use.
When installing replacement windows using a Builder or window company not FENSA registered.
Certain domestic electrical work.
When you alter the energy status of the building e.g. re-render.

Building Regulations may also apply to other alterations or constructions. Please contact Building Control to see if you will require Building Regulations.

There are a number of Buildings and Structures which are exempt from Building Regulations. If you are unsure as to whether your project is exempt or not, please contact us. Also, you should be aware that while your project may be exempt from the requirements of Building Regulations, it may still require Planning Permission. It is advisable to send details of planned projects to both Ceredigion County Council's Building Control and Planning sections in order to ensure you comply with legislation.

The following structures are exempt from the Building Regulations, subject to meeting the stated criteria:

Conservatories

Conservatories are defined as single storey, ground floor constructions attached to existing buildings, The roof and walls must be substantially glazed with a translucent or transparent material. They are intended for growing plants, but are frequently used as additional living spaces.

To be exempt, your conservatory must meet the following criteria:

Ground floor level only
The internal floorspace must not exceed 30m2
No less than three-quarters of the roof, and no less than half the external walls must be made of translucent or transparent material
Your conservatory must not be used for any other purpose such as sleeping accommodation or kitchen space
Existing doors and/or windows must be retained
Safety glazing must be used in critical locations
If provided with fixed heating, it should be in dependant from the dwelling

Porches

Porches are defined as single storey extensions to existing buildings, attached at ground level over an access door, which tend to be used for storing coats, shoes and so on.

To be exempt your porch extension must meet the following criteria:

Ground floor level only
The internal floorspace must not exceed 30m2
Your porch must not be used for any other purpose, such as sleeping accommodation or kitchen space
Existing doors and/or windows must be retained
Safety glazing must be used in critical locations

Carports

To be exempt your carport must meet the following criteria:

Ground floor level only
The internal floorspace must not exceed 30m2
The carport must be open on at least two sides

Garage

To be exempt your garage must meet the following criteria:

Must be detached from any other structure
The internal floorspace must not exceed 30m2
More than 1 metre from the boundary or constructed of brickwork or blockwork

Shed

To be exempt your shed must meet the following criteria:

Must be detached from any other structure
The internal floorspace must not exceed 30m2
More than 1 metre from the boundary or constructed of brickwork or blockwork
Your porch must not be used for any other purpose, such as sleeping accommodation or kitchen space
If built of timber and not more than 1 metre from the boundary of the property, the internal floorspace must be under 15m2.

Agricultural buildings and greenhouses

These should be primarily used for keeping plants and/or animals, and must not be used for retailing, packaging or exhibiting. The buildings must not be used as a dwelling. The structure must also be 1.5 times the height of the building away from any dwelling.

Ancillary buildings

These include construction site offices, sales offices and so on. They must only be used during construction works and must on no account contain sleeping accommodation.

There are two methods of applying for Building Regulations:

Full Plans

Full Plans require detailed drawings to be submitted to Ceredigion County Council, along with the fee for the work. These plans will be checked, and an approval notice will usually be issued before the work commences. This process could take up to 8 weeks, but we aim to respond sooner than this.

Building Notice

This is a simpler method of applying for Building Regulations, but cannot be used for commercial buildings. Basic details of the project, and the relevant fee, should be sent to Ceredigion County Council. No approval notice is issued, and instead work can go ahead with regular site inspections to be agreed upon and carried out during stages of construction.

Competent Person Schemes were introduced by the Government to allow individuals and organisations to self-certify that their work complies with Building Regulations without having to submit a Building Notice or using an approved inspector.

The reasoning behind the schemes is to allow those who are competent in their fields to certify that their work complies with Building Regulations without the need for submitting Building Notices and thus incurring fees. The aim is to increase compliance with Building Regulations, reduce costs for companies joining schemes, and increase training and competence within the construction industry.

A comprehensive list of existing Competent Person Schemes can be found on the Department of Communities and Local Government CPS page.