Submitting an Application

Applying for Building Regulations Approval

Please Note:

WE NOW ONLY RETURN APPROVED DRAWINGS ELECTRONICALLY

If you require a hard copy of the drawings "STAMPED APPROVED" a copy will need to be forwarded to our office with a formal request. Please note this only applies to Full Plans applications.

If you are proposing to carry out work to a property to which the Building Regulations apply, you must submit one of the following:

if you have already carried out work and then realised that you need approval, it is possible to apply to the Partnership for a

In most cases STG is required to charge a fee for these services, based on the fee charging guidelines laid down by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Full Plans Application

With this application you must submit one copy of your detailed plans (two copies for non residential proposals) showing what you intend to build and how it will be constructed or altered.

We check the plans as quickly as possible and let you know if there are problems or if we need more information and we will give you ample time to respond.

When all the outstanding issues have been resolved, we will approve the plans and return an approved copy electronically if requested. A copy of the approved plan should be given to the builder to work from. By following the approved plans you can be sure that the work will comply with the relevant regulations when it is inspected.

If you do not supply all the required information, conditions may be attached to the approval notice and time given to you to respond to the conditions.

A decision will be issued within five weeks or two months (subject to agreement) but you will receive a response in 10 working days in most cases.

Important things to know

  • a Full Plans application must be submitted if the property is designated under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (e.g. a shop, office, hotel, etc.) or has a relevant use;
  • a Full Plans application must be submitted if the building work involves building over a public sewer;
  • amended plans can be submitted without additional cost, providing the proposal remains substantially the same;
  • works may start prior to approval but notification must be given for all statutory inspection;
  • a Full Plans Application form (pdf file, 30kb)
  • full plans should include plan views, elevations and sections drawn to a suitable scale (e.g. 1:50, 1:100). The plans must be detailed and be accompanied by sufficient specification notes and calculations to enable a builder to build without needing further details. Unless you are experienced in building matters, you are advised to employ an architect, surveyor or engineer to act on your behalf.

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Building Notice application

This procedure is ideal for small and straightforward work plans. Under this application, you apply for a Building Notice and notify the Partnership when the building work will begin. The Building Control Surveyor will meet you onsite to discuss the work and agree to an inspection regime. A plan of the proposed works is also required with this type of application.

We aim to acknowledge all applications within two working days and check them within 10 working days.

Important things to know

  • work can start in 48 hours;
  • ideally suited to small projects such as re-roofing, window replacement, (FENSA) through lounges, etc;
  • requires only the Building Notice form (pdf 166kb) and in the case of a new building or an extension, a block plan showing where it will be sited in relation to its boundaries and its dimensions. Further details may be requested for complex schemes;
  • does not involve the issue of a decision notice; a completion certificate will be issued on satisfactory completion of the works;
  • cannot be used for designated buildings (offices, shops, railway premises and hotels) or premises to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies;
  • cannot be used if the proposed work involves building over a sewer.

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Regularisation application

If you have already carried out work and then realised that you need approval, a separate procedure applies. It is now possible to apply to the Partnership for a regularisation certificate. The application should include:

  • a Regularisation form (pdf file, 30kb)
  • a plan of the unauthorised work;
  • a plan showing any additional work needed to ensure compliance with the building regulations that were in force at that time and
  • a regularisation fee which is calculated as 150% of the net building notice fee and can be submitted online.

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Fees

Fees for Full Plans applications and Building Notice applications are the same, although the means of payment may be different. Both applications are valid for three years unless commencement of the work does not occur within those three years. A completion certificate will be issued when the works have been completed satisfactorily.

The fee for Regularisation is calculated as 150% of the net building notice fee.

STG Fee Calculator (240 kb)

Please Note : Once you have opened the fee calculator and entered the appropriate information, you will need to scroll to the botton of the page to view the total fee payable


or

Download a Fee Guidance Form (pdf file, 133kb)