Fees and charges

Find more information on building control fees and charges.

All fees are calculated with consideration given to the Hourly Rate of £85.00 per hour, and the relevant factors from Section 5 of The Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 2010.

  • All fees except for Full Plans Applications are to be paid in full at the time of submission.    
  • An application with Full Plans requires payment of the Plan Check fee on submission, with the Inspection Fee to be paid prior to booking the 1st inspection.
  • Plan Check Fees listed above are inclusive of VAT. Before VAT, Plan Check Fees are:
    A - Alterations and other works - £229.16 
    B - New Dwellings - £366.66
    C - Commercial - £320.83  
  • If a professional consultation is required, e.g. electrical or structural, a separate fee will be additionally charged.
  • All payments are to be made by card. You will be sent a link by email to the online Council payment page, for your application, after submission. 
  • Multiple Works:
    Plan checking – where works fall under our standard fees, the plan checking fee will be charged at the full price, and for each additional works (additional fee code), the plan check fee will be reduced by 50%.
    Inspection charge – where works fall under our standard fees, the inspection charge will be charged at the full price, and for each additional works (additional fee code), the subsequent fees will be reduced by 50%.
  • If works do not commence within 3 years, your application will be automatically closed under S32 Building Act 1984 and you will need to re-apply.
    If works have commenced but there have been no inspection requests for more than 6 months, we may get in contact with you to assess progress. If we are unable to contact you, we may move your application to a dormant status, and there will be a charge to re-open your file.
  • If your works are outside of the Description of Standard Works charges outlined in this document, please contact the Building Control Team for a quote - buildingcontrol@colchester.gov.uk

Total charges for FULL PLANS applications are the relevant PLAN CHECK FEES FEES (50% reduction for multiple works), plus the INSPECTION fees in the Description of Standard Works table below.

To be paid in full at the time of submission:-

  • Plan Check Fees
  • Building Notice Fees
  • Regularisation / Reversion charges                                                                    

Inspection Fees to be paid prior to 1st Inspection.

PLAN CHECK FEES FOR FULL PLANS ONLY (inc of VAT) 
A - Alterations and other works  275.00
B - New Dwellings 440.00
C - Commercial 385.00
Description of Standard Works Full Plans Application       INSPECTION Fees  Building Notice Fees Regularisation / Reversion 
Charge VAT Total Charge VAT Total Total  (exc VAT)
Code A - Alterations and other works - small domestic buildings, extensions, loft conversions and other works 
D00 Extension where the floor area does not exceed 10m²  241.67 48.33 290.00 470.83 94.17 565.00 565.00
D01 Extension where floor area exceeds 10m² but does not exceed 40m²  541.67 108.33 650.00 770.83 154.17 925.00 925.00
D02 Extension where the floor area exceeds 40m² but does not exceed 100m² 733.33 146.67 880.00 962.50 192.50 1155.00 1155.00
D05 A building or extension comprising SOLELY of a garage, carport or store - total floor area not exceeding 100m² 362.50 72.50 435.00 591.67 118.33 710.00 710.00
D06 Detached (non-habitable) building up to 100m² 516.67 103.33 620.00 745.83 149.17 895.00 895.00
D07 Loft conversion   666.67 133.33 800.00 895.83 179.17 1075.00 1075.00
D08 Garage conversion 312.50 62.50 375.00 541.67 108.33 650.00 650.00
D10 Replacement of windows, roof lights, roof windows or external glazed doors, renovation of a thermal element (up to £25,000) 58.33 11.67 70.00 287.50 57.50 345.00 345.00
D1A Cost of controllable work not exceeding £2000 100.00 20.00 120.00 329.17 65.83 395.00 395.00
D11 Cost of controllable work over £2000 and up to £5000 (inc Renewable Energy systems) 179.17 35.83 215.00 408.33 81.67 490.00 490.00
D12 Cost of controllable work over £5000 and up to £25,000 333.33 66.67 400.00 562.50 112.50 675.00 675.00
D13 Cost of controllable work over £25,000 and up to £100,000 712.50 142.50 855.00 941.67 188.33 1130.00 1130.00

 

Description of Works Full Plans Application       INSPECTION Fees  Building Notice Fees Regularisation / Reversion 
Charge VAT Total Charge VAT Total Total 
  B - New Dwellings - Houses and flats, including  conversions to dwellings
H01 Single dwelling 570.83 114.17 685.00 937.50 187.50 1125.00 1125.00
H02 Two dwellings 1120.83 224.17 1345.00 1487.50 297.50 1785.00 1785.00
H03 Three dwellings 1658.33 331.67 1990.00 2025.00 405.00 2430.00 2430.00
  C - Commercial
N01 New Build or Extension where floor area does not exceed 40m²  550.00 110.00 660.00       1045.00
N02 New Build or Extension where the floor area exceeds 40m² but does not exceed 100m²  804.17 160.83 965.00       1350.00
N05 Replacement of windows, roof lights, roof windows or external glazed doors, installation of shop fronts, renovation of a thermal element (cost of work up to £25,000) 79.17 15.83 95.00       480.00
N5 Cost of controllable work up to £5000 79.17 15.83 95.00       480.00
N06 Cost of controllable work over £5000 and up to £25,000 266.67 53.33 320.00       705.00
N07 Cost of controllable work over £25,000 and up to £100,000 633.33 126.67 760.00       1145.00
N7 Fit out of building up to 100m² and/or installation of mezzanine floor 633.33 126.67 760.00       1145.00
Ancillary Charges (inc VAT)
Research Record Request  £95.00 per hour
Copy of Completion Certificate/Decision Notice (Full Plans)  £35.00 per application 
(Can be downloaded via the website – Search for Building Applications  · Colchester City Council)
Administration fee to re-open dormant application (including Site inspection for recommencement) £165.00
Demolition Notice (inc Neighbour Consultation) £135.00
Building Safety Regulator (BSR) - Hourly Rate Enforcement Work (exc VAT) £120.83
Building Safety Regulator (BSR) - Hourly Rate MDT Work £145.00