Building Control Group

This Group, which is ISO9001:2000 accredited and managed by Tony Downes, is responsible for ensuring that new buildings, extensions, alterations and changes of use are constructed in accordance with national guidelines. The work of the group includes the examination of plans, site inspections, the control of dangerous structures and demolitions and ensuring a safe means of escape in the event of fire for houses in multiple occupation.

Operationally, there are two teams that deal with the east and west of Worthing. The Group offers a full, professional and personal Building Control service with a wealth of local knowledge on matters such as ground conditions and site drainage.

The overriding purpose of the group is to ensure the health and safety of people in and around buildings. All Building Control officers are qualified and the group has prepared a variety of helpful literature relating to various building control matters.

Since 1985, our building control service has faced increasingly direct competition from the private sector. The Group has had, therefore, to demonstrate that it can provide the best quality service at the lowest reasonable cost.

What is Building Control?
Building Control is described by the District Surveyors Association as:

"The administrative and technical processes involved in the enforcement of statutory building standards contained within the Building Regulations and allied legislation, including the execution of the provisions of the Building Act."

Building Control therefore is the process by which all significant activities of the building industry are regulated to ensure their adherence to minimum construction standards for health, safety, welfare and convenience.

The Building Control process is the means by which the "Building Regulations" are enforced and which define the functional requirements of the Regulations. This process is designed to safeguard all members of the community from danger and discomfort which the built environment might otherwise present.

By continual service improvements it ensures that acceptable levels of health and safety are provided for people who live, work, visit or are in the vicinity of all buildings within the Borough.

Our Work
The functions and activities undertaken by the group include the following:

• Statutory Building Regulatory Work - for which a fee can be charged.
• Statutory Non-Fee-Earning work.
• Non-Statutory Functions

Applications for approval under the Building Regulations are dealt with under delegated powers by the Building Control Manager on behalf of the Executive Head of Planning, Regeneration and Wellbeing.

There is no statutory connection between Planning and Building Control; however the client groups of the two services overlap, and there is close liaison between officers. The Building Control Manager and Development Control Manager co-operate by employing the principles of the Development Team Approach. This brings together all local authority regulatory agencies which affect the development process in order to provide a co-ordinated approach from conception through to completion.

Our Services
For administrative and operational purposes the Borough is divided East and West, with a small team of suitably qualified officers operating in each area.

The building control group offers:

• a quality building control service accredited to ISO 9001:2000
• a professional, impartial and publicly accountable service
• pre-application advice given on compliance with the requirements of relevant legislation
• extensive knowledge of materials and construction methods to assist you in your scheme
• extensive knowledge of local conditions
• where workload permits, inspection requests received before 10:00am will be made that day
• inspections made of key stages of construction to determine work is constructed to conformity
• technical staff are available in the office until 10:00am every day. (If you wish to discuss your scheme with a specific Building Control Officer and wish to call after 10:00am please make a prior arrangement)
• answerphone available on 01903 214034
• all building control surveyors contactable by mobile phone or pager
• conditional and stage approvals available
• LANTAC type approval schemes available for dwellings, commercial schemes and industrial schemes
• completion certificates issued to show the scheme has been inspected and approved to our satisfaction

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