New Building Regulations/Approved Documents – Transitional Arrangements Update

There were substantial changes to the Building Regulations in June 2022 in respect of Part F (Ventilation), Part L (Conservation of Fuel & Power), new Part O (Overheating Mitigation) and new Part S (Infrastructure for Charging Electric Vehicles).

Any application submitted prior to 15 June 2022, where the work does not commence before 15 June 2023, will need to comply with these new requirements.  This now applies to all individual plots (in respect of Parts F, L & O) on a multi-plot site and could include applications deposited many years ago where there are still some plots to commence.

Consequently, for pre-June 2022 applications/plots for new build dwellings/commercial buildings that do not commence by 15 June 2023, amended plans and details will need to be submitted before work commences, updated to show compliance with these new requirements.

As this will necessitate additional work on our part to check for compliance, an additional plan charge of £170.00 plus VAT will be required for individual applications, and multi-plot sites up to 10 dwellings and 2 house types.  If your development is for more than 10 dwellings and 2 house types, please email enquiries@cncbuildingcontrol.gov.uk with your application reference and contact details, and we will arrange for someone to call you regarding a quote for the additional charge payable.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) has stated that the following is work that would constitute a commencement for Building Regulations:

• Excavation for strip or trench foundations or for pad footings
  • Foundations to be concreted or trenches shored up

 Digging out and preparation of ground for raft foundations

• • Hardcore dumplings to be formed and lean mix blinding in place
• Vibrofloatation (stone columns) piling, boring for piles or pile driving
• Drainage work specific to the building(s) concerned
  • Drainage to be installed such as main run to boundary or length of private sewer serving number of plots

DLUHC do not consider that the following type of work constitutes a commencement:

• removal of vegetation
• demolition of any previous buildings on the site
• removal of topsoil
• removal or treatment of contaminated soil
• excavation of trial holes
• dynamic compaction
• general site servicing works (e.g., roadways)

Information can be found on our website regarding these new requirements at:

https://www.cncbuildingcontrol.gov.uk/easy-guides/

If you are unsure whether your project is affected by the new regulations, please email us at enquiries@cncbuildingcontrol.gov.uk for clarification.