Apply for Building Control approval
Application process

The application process will depend on the type of building work you are carrying out.

Apply as early as possible. We cannot prioritise an application because of a property sale or another external deadline.

Appoint the duty holders

The client must appoint competent people to carry out the required duty-holder roles.

Client

The person or organisation for whom the building work is being carried out. The client is responsible for managing the project and appointing the other duty holders.

Principal Designer

The designer responsible for planning, managing and monitoring the design work and making sure the design complies with building regulations.

Principal Contractor

The contractor responsible for planning, managing and monitoring the building work and making sure it complies with building regulations.

One person or organisation may carry out more than one duty-holder role where appropriate.

Read the legal requirements for building regulations duty holders.

Prepare your application

Before applying, choose the correct application route and prepare the supporting documents required for your project.

The documents you need are explained on the relevant application page:

You may also need to provide:

  • details of your structural engineer or scaffolding contractor
  • information about known site risks, including asbestos
  • a completed Fire Consultation Pro Forma if the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies

Complete the duty-holder declaration

For applications subject to the duty-holder requirements, you must provide the duty holders’ contact details and a signed New Application Declaration.

The declaration confirms that the duty holders agree to their appointment and will carry out their legal responsibilities.

The client, Principal Designer and agent, where applicable, must sign the declaration. The Principal Contractor must sign it before building work begins.

Submit and pay for your application

Submit your application and supporting documents using the building regulations application form.

We will email the applicant with details of the fee and a link to pay by card through the Council Payment Service.

We will not progress the application until the required fee has been paid.

Application validation

After payment, we will validate the application and send the applicant a validation pack.

The pack will normally include:

Email building.control@colchester.gov.uk if you have not received your validation pack within five working days of payment.

Full Plans applications

For a Full Plans application, a Building Control Inspector will assess the plans and supporting information.

A decision will usually be issued within five to eight weeks, although some applications may be decided sooner.

Any work carried out before plan approval is at the applicant’s own risk and cost.

The inspection fee must be paid before inspections can be booked. Use the payment link in the initial fee email or contact us if the link has expired.

Before work starts

If the Principal Contractor’s details were not provided with the application, you must provide them before work begins, together with their signed New Application Declaration.

Use the Building Control tell us form to:

  • provide or update duty-holder details
  • tell us that work is starting
  • tell us if a duty holder changes
  • ask us to close an application where work has not started

Your application may expire if work does not start within three years of validation.

Book an inspection

Inspections can normally be booked 48 hours after validation.

You can book an inspection:

Book by 2pm on the working day before the inspection is required.

We cannot normally offer same-day or timed appointments. Someone must be available on site during the day.

Give as much notice as possible for time-sensitive work, such as pouring concrete. When using the app, include the name and contact number of the person who will be on site.

The client is responsible for making sure inspections are booked at the appropriate stages.

During the work

Send relevant certificates and supporting documents to building.control@colchester.gov.uk as the work progresses.

This may include electrical, heating or installation certificates.

If a duty holder leaves the project, the client must appoint a competent replacement and tell us about the change.

Complete the work

When the work is complete:

  • make sure any conditions have been met
  • send us all required certificates and documents
  • book a final completion inspection
  • submit a signed Completion Notice

The client, Principal Designer and Principal Contractor must sign the Completion Notice to confirm that they have carried out their duties and reasonably believe the work complies with building regulations.

We will issue a completion certificate when the work and supporting information are satisfactory.

Limits of our service

We can check submitted plans and building work against building regulations.

We cannot design the work, prepare calculations or advise you how to carry it out.