How do I get permission to carry out work?

There are two different procedures available to get permission depending upon the scale and type of work involved

Full Plans application:
An application deposited this way needs to contain plans and other information showing all construction details, well in advance work starting on site. CNC will check your plans and consult any appropriate authorities. They must complete this by issuing you with a decision within 5 weeks, or if you agree, a maximum of 2 months from the deposit date.

If your plans comply with Building Regulations you will receive a notice stating they have been approved. If we are not satisfied, you may be asked to make amendments or provide more details, or a conditional approval may be issued. This will specify modifications which must be made to the plans; or will specify further plans must be deposited. CNC may only apply conditions if you have either requested them to do so or have consented to them doing so. A request or consent must be made in writing. If your plans are rejected the reasons will be stated in the notice.

CNC will carry out inspections of the building work once it is in progress. They will explain about the notification procedures which the regulations require you to follow at various stages of the work. If you request a completion certificate when you first make your CNC will issue it to you provided they are satisfied the completed work complies with Building Regulations.

A Building Notice:
This procedure avoids the preparation of detailed full plans as it does not involve the passing or rejecting of plans.  It is designed to enable some types of building work to get quickly under way. There are specific exclusions in the Building Regulations as to when Building Notices cannot be used. These are for building work which is subject to section 1 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 or Part II of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997; for work which will be built close to or over the top of rain water and foul drains shown on the map of sewers; and where a new building will front onto a private street. If you decide to use this procedure you need to be confident that the work will comply with the Building Regulations or you will risk having to correct any work you carry out if CNC requests this.  Information CNC will require to accept a Building Notice is the appropriate completed form, block plan, location plan and fee.

Once you have given your building notice and informed CNC you are about to start work, the work will be inspected as it progresses. You will be advised by us if the work does not comply with the Building Regulations. If CNC require further information, you must supply these. CNC will issue it to you provided they are satisfied the completed work complies with Building Regulations.

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