4. The Building (L.A. Charges) Regs 1988

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planning@worthing.gov.uk

Technical Guidance Note 4: The Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 1988

Introduction

A Full Plans, or Building Notice application must me submitted to us before you extend, alter or convert your property.

If you submit a Full Plans application; we will examine the plans and calculations, and advise you of any changes required to comply with the Building Regulations.  Building Control Officers will inspect the work at various stages during construction.

If you submit a Building Notice with a notice of commencement, work can start 48 hours later.  Building Control Officers will visit the site at intervals to ensure work conforms to the Building Regulations.

Building Control Fees

The scale of fees payable are set by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and are very similar throughout the country.

Worthing Borough Council is required annually to set a scale of charges in accordance with the provisions of the Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 1998 in respect of Full Plans (deposited for the purpose of the Building Regulations 2000), and work undertaken in connection with a Building Notice.

When Do I Pay?

Fees are payable as follows:

Should you submit Full Plans you will pay a plan charge to cover the passing or rejection of the plans deposited.  An inspection fee is also due in order  to cover the inspection of work and this is payable following the Building Control Officers first visit to the site.

Should you submit a Building Notice you will pay a Building Notice charge which is payable when the notice is given to us.  This payment covers the cost of all subsequent inspections made by the Building Control Officer.

Should you apply for a Regularisation Certificate in respect of unauthorised building work, you will pay a Regularisation charge to cover the cost of assessing your application and all inspections.  This is payable when the application is made to us.

How Much Must I Pay?

Full Plans submissions, Building Notices and applications for Regularisation Certificates submitted to the Council must be accompanied by the appropriate prescribed charge, otherwise the application/notice is not valid, and work should not commence.

To assist you in submitting the correct charge there is a separate Guidance Note on Charges/Fees, which can be obtained from the address below.

Whether you choose to deposit Full Plans, or a Building Notice the total charge payable is the same.

What Works Do Not Require A Fee?

• Work to provide access and facilities solely for disabled persons in dwellings and buildings to which the public has access.
  
• Insertion of insulating material into an existing cavity wall, provided the insulation is certified to an approved standard and the work is carried out by an approved installer.
  
• Installation of an approved unvented hot water system where the work is carried out by an approved operative or is part of a larger project.

Other Useful Information

Full Plans submissions for work costing less than £5,000 must be accompanied by the total charge.

Where an extension or alteration to a dwelling consists of the provision of one or more rooms in a roof space, the sum of the plan charge and the inspection charge on a Building Notice must not be less than £365.96 + VAT.

With the exception of Regularisation Fees, all local authority charges are subject to VAT at the appropriate rate.

In certain cases we may agree to fees being paid by installments.  Consult the Building Control Group for details.

Please note that this guidance note relates to charges for the Council Building Regulation Service only. Fees for Planning permission are different and available from the Fees page.

If you wish to submit a Building Regulation application or have any doubts whatsoever please do not hesitate to contact us.

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