Regulations Changes
IMPORTANT NOTICES
1: New Requirement For Full Plans, Building Notices And Initial Notices For New Dwellings – Part R Infrastructure for electronic communications CONNECTIVITY PLAN
A connectivity plan is required ‘up front’ for both Full Plans & Building Notice applications, of new dwellings, to be valid.
For your convenience we have included on this page, 2 commonly used formats of a blank connectivity plan, which you can download and use.
Please submit a completed connectivity plan with your application.
This has been made a requirement by amending Regulation 13 (building notices) & Regulation 14 (full plans) to require a connectivity plan, or exemption, to be provided when the application is made.
It only applies to new build dwellings or new build buildings containing dwellings (eg flats).
Similarly, The Approved Inspector Regulations have been amended to say that the Initial Notice must include a connectivity plan (or exemption).
Advice from LABC and Government (DLUHC) is that failure to provide a connectivity plan, or details of exemption, is grounds for rejecting the Initial Notice under Ground 1 of the Approved Inspector Regulations.
- Click the button to download the Connectivity Plan Form Download
2: New Building Control Process For Highrise Residential Buildings
High-rise residential buildings (HRBs) are defined as “residential buildings 18 metres tall or higher, or at least 7 storeys tall, with two or more residential units”.
From 1st October 2023, any applications for new HRBs, including those formed by change of use or by adding additional storeys, must be made to the new Building Safety Regulator rather than Local Authority Building Control Body / Private Approved Inspectors. This also applies to major alterations to existing HRBs.
In addition, all existing HRBs, whether being altered or not, must be registered with the Regulator.
Further information can be found at:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/building-safety/planning.htm
https://press.hse.gov.uk/2023/04/12/registration-of-high-rise-residential-buildings/
As of 1st October 2023, CNC will charge an hourly rate of £83.00 to the BSR as the BSR Building Control Hourly Rate. This rate will apply to all HRB related work directed under the BSR and apply in South Norfolk, Fenland, Broadland, Norwich, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk local authorities.
3 : Important Changes the the Building Regulations
The 1st October saw the introduction of numerous changes to the Building Regulations through the Building Safety Act and its associated legislation. These changes were extensive and included the following:
HIGHER RISK RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
Applications for new or altered High Risk Residential Buildings (HRBs) must now be made to the new Building Safety Regulator. The client, designer or contractor can no longer choose whether to apply to the Local Authority Building Control or to private Registered Building Control Approvers (Approved Inspectors), these applications have to now go to the Building Safety Regulator.
In addition, all existing HRBs need to be registered with the Regulator.
Further information can be found at https://buildingsafety.campaign.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/157/2023/09/23_040-BCA-FAQ-Explainer.pdf and https://www.hse.gov.uk/building-safety/regulator.htm
DUTYHOLDERS
With some of the new regulations, there is a fundamental shift in emphasis on the role of the client, their agent and Building Control with the introduction of very clear requirements regarding dutyholders and their competence.
A client will now be required to make suitable arrangements for planning, managing, and monitoring a project to ensure compliance with The Building Regulations. To do this, they must appoint a Principal Contractor and a Principal Designer who are competent to undertake that type of work. They must also provide full details of those appointed to Building Control and of any subsequent changes in these roles. If they fail to do so or are “domestic clients” then the designer in control of the design phase of the project will automatically become the Principal Designer and the contractor in control of the construction phase of the project will become the Principal Contractor.
Further information can be found at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214/part/2A
NOTIFICATIONS
New regulations require that several notifications are sent to the Local Authority at various stages and in certain situations.
If when an application is made details of the principal contractor are not known, then this must be notified within 14 days of the appointment being made. There is a similar requirement to notify if client and/or contractor, and/or designer changes during the course of building work.
Formal notification must now be given when the work reaches a stage known as “commencement”. This is different to notifying that work has started, and is a stage when foundations are cast and floor is in place or when 15% of alteration work is carried out. If work has not reached this “commencement” stage within 3 years of an application being made, then the work is considered “lapsed”/out of time and a new application will be required if work is to progress. This now applies to each individual plot on a site.
A formal notification must now be given when work is complete and, if its is subject to the RRO Fire Safety Order (non-domestic), when it is to be occupied.
Additional form are available on our download page