Who are we and what do we do?

Welcome to CNC Building Control.

CNC provides the building control functions for the Local Authority areas of South Norfolk, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Fenland, Norwich City and Broadland. Building Control is a statutory requirement on the vast majority of building projects (including internal alterations and conversion works) irrespective of whether planning permission has been required or not.

It is the process of ensuring projects are completed in accordance with the Building Regulations and exists to ensure that the safety and well-being of any person is not compromised by changes or work that takes place.

In short, CNC are able to support you through your project from pre-planning and commencement through to project completion and issuing of certification.

We look forward to working with you.

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO 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

 

 

APPLICATIONS FOR APPROVAL WITH FULL PLANS (Full Plans Applications)

A lot more information must now be submitted as part of an application, such as full client details, full principal designer details and full principal contractor details. Details are also required of the height of the building, number and use of each storey, etc. If this supplementary information is not provided, then the application cannot be accepted as valid until that information is provided and this may cause delays in the vetting of the application and/or inspection of work on site.

Supplementary information for can be downloaded here  Download

 

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

 

 

We can help you in numerous ways, including:

 

20/09/24 LABC Trainee Building Control Surveyor

Looking for an opportunity to earn while you learn and gain the qualifications needed to start a successful career in the construction industry?   Following a successful initial recruitment campaign resulting in over 140 job offers, LABC, the organisation that represents all local authority building control teams in England and Wales, is recruiting additional Trainees... > Read More

02/11/23 Staff Training Day – Wednesday, 3rd October 2024

At CNC Building Control we are committed to ensuring our staff are trained to the highest standards and this is done in a number of ways including internal & external training courses, CPD, day release and mentoring. As part our staff training programme we have initiated ‘all staff training days’.  Our next ‘all staff training... > Read More

03/05/23 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... > Read More

18/01/23 Leading the Way into 2023

Following the Grenfell tragedy and subsequent enquiry, there are reforms being introduced by the new Building Safety Regulator and regulatory changes passed by parliament.  One of these changes will see a requirement for all building control professionals to be accredited by April 2024.  The level of accreditation will correspond to the type of work they... > Read More

03/11/22 We’re Moving – Beyond the Horizon

We are delighted to announce that CNC Building Control’s Eastern Team will be relocating to The Horizon Centre, Broadland Business Park, Peachman Way, Norwich NR7 0WF from Tuesday, 30th May 2023.   Our phone number, email address and website will remain unchanged.   If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us. > Read More