Technical Guidance Note 5: Dangerous Structures and Demolitions

 Introduction

Worthing Borough Council has a statutory duty to ensure that:

 
• All structures within the Borough, which are considered dangerous, are made safe as quickly as possible.
     
     
• Any demolition work undertaken within the Borough is carried out with the necessary safety precautions, and in such a way that adjacent properties, where appropriate, are made safe and weatherproof.

Dangerous Structures

The term dangerous structure not only covers buildings or parts of buildings, i.e. loose slates or tiles, but also garden walls, fences or hoarding.  In fact, any structure which could by its condition endanger people.

What Do I Do If I Consider A Structure To Be Dangerous?

Report the matter directly to Worthing Building Control Group, Portland House, Richmond Road, Worthing, either in person or by telephone (01903 221344).  Outside of normal working hours you should ring the Council's emergency number 01903 239999.

What Powers Do The Council Have?

The Council has a statutory duty to deal with dangerous structures under Section 77 or 78 of the Building Act 1984.What Will The Building Control Officer Do?The Building Control Officer will immediately visit the site to inspect the structure, and will arrange for appropriate action to be taken to remove the danger.

If the structure is considered potentially dangerous, the owner of the property will be located and requested to arrange for the structure to be removed or repaired.  Barriers are sometimes required around the dangerous structure.

If the structure is considered immediately dangerous and likely to collapse, the Building Control Officer will arrange for a builder to remove or repair the structure as soon as possible; normally on the same day.  The builders costs are recoverable from the owner of the property.

Remember - If In Doubt Ring

If you consider that a structure of any type or size may be dangerous, ring us (Building Control Group).  We are always happy to inspect and advise at any time.  You may be saving someone from injury.

Demolitions: -

Before a building or part of a building is demolished, the owner or the demolition contractor must serve a notice on us informing us of their intentions.  Demolition may not commence until we has given permission or a period of six weeks has elapsed.

Does this apply to all buildings? No

The following are exempt from the need to serve a demolition notice:

 
• The demolition of an internal part of a building if the building continues to be occupied.
     
     
• A building that has an external cubic content of not more than 1750 cubic feet (approximately 50m³).
     
     
• A domestic greenhouse, conservatory, shed or prefabricated garage.

 

Note:  Conservation Area or Listed Building consent will also be required if the building is in a Conservation Area or Listed as being of architectural or historic interest.

Who Else Is Notified?

The owner or demolition contractor must provide the following involved parties with a copy of the same notice they served on the Council:

 
• The occupier of any adjacent buildings
     
     
• British Gas
     
     
• Southern Electric

What Will We Do?

The Building Control Officers will visit the site when required.  They will also ensure that the appropriate copies of notice have been given to those mentioned above.

When giving approval for demolition to take place we require the owner/contractor to adhere to certain conditions including:

 
• Adequate shoring, repair and weatherproofing of adjacent buildings
     
     
• Removal of material or rubbish and disconnection, removal or sealing of drainage
     
     
• The disconnection of Gas, Electricity and Water supplies
     
     
• The burning of materials on site in a controlled manner

 

The Building Control Group administers the demolition procedures, therefore if you would like further details or wish to obtain the appropriate forms, please contact:

Building Control Group
Planning Section
Portland House
Richmond Road
Worthing
West Sussex
BN11 lLF

Tel: 01903 221344

E-mail: building.control@worthing.gov.uk

Minicom: 01903 204500

Fax: 01903 207365

Answerphone: 01903 214034

 

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