A Building Warrant is required to be in place before work starts. For minor works a Building Warrant is not always required; however, all construction work should comply with current Building Regulations. In the first instance we can offer guidance on the requirement for a Building Warrant and we can liaise with the Local Authority on your behalf to confirm this is the case.
A Building Warrant application is assessed to ensure compliance with the current Building Regulations by a Building Control Officer at your Local Authority and normally includes architectural drawings along with a written specification which details the layout and construction of any building works. Depending on the type and scale of the project, input from other specialists may be required such as a Structural Engineer or SAP assessor. It is worth noting that it is a legal offence to commence construction works without an approved Building Warrant in place. T.H.E. maintain good working relationships with Building Standards Officers that we work with regularly which can help smooth the process for our clients.
Should any changes to the design take place then an Amendment to Warrant is required. A Completion Certificate should also be applied for once works are complete and this will be an important document that should be retained along with deeds to the property.
Sometimes works are carried without a Building Warrant and this is usually flagged during a house sale. If this is the case, get in touch with T.H.E. and we can work with you to get the correct documentation in place.
The Building Regulations are updated usually on a yearly basis so it is worth engaging with an architect to ensure your project is compliant.
Planning permission is required for all development and this also includes any change in the use of land or buildings, e.g. changing an office to a house or splitting a house into flats.
There are permitted development rights that exist and in certain instances and in accordance with these rights, planning permission would not be required. These rights do not exist in the same way in Conservation Areas or Listed Buildings and in advising you on projects we will be able to ensure necessary approvals are obtained. If planning is not required you are likely to still require a building warrant.
Every project is unique, the time taken could vary between days and years. Large, complex buildings require time on site to allow for coordination of different trades on the site but time also needs to be available before construction commences. Sufficient time at the outset of a project allows the Design Team to prepare a fully developed design and for all approvals to be in place before work starts. This is also the best way to get value for money and to reduce the risk of unforeseen increases in the construction cost.
At T.H.E., one of our first questions to you will be your consideration of programme, we can then advise you on how we can help you achieve that or where you may need to allow extra time.
Approvals such as Planning Permission, Roads Construction Consent and Building Warrants require time applications to be assessed by the Local Authority who will have their own target timescales. Our job is to monitor those applications on your behalf to smooth the process where possible.
