Building control and regulations

• What are the Building Regulations?
• When do I need to apply and how much does it cost?
• An overview of our Building Control service

Herefordshire Council's Building Control service is responsible for ensuring that building work carried out across the county meets the minimum standards set by the Building Regulations.

Whether you are a large developer undertaking a multi-million pound project or a homeowner planning some alterations, our aim is always to provide the best Building Control service possible. As part of this we aim to understand your particular needs and priorities and provide you with all the support and guidance you require to meet and exceed your legal obligations.

We recognise that our client base is very diverse, and that the content on these web pages may not meet your particular needs. If you are unable to find what you are looking for, please contact us to discuss your specific requirements.

What are the Building Regulations?

The Building Regulations set minimum legal quality standards. The regulations apply to most building works - whether contractors or DIY enthusiasts carry out the work, and whether the building in question is a new or existing one. The main purpose of the regulations is to guarantee standards across four broad areas:

• To ensure that buildings are safe and healthy for those in and around them
• To set and maintain targets for sustainability in buildings (insulation, energy efficiency, use of renewable energy sources)
• To ensure that buildings and the facilities within them are accessible for all, including those with disabilities
• To implement measures to guard against environmental damage from buildings, such as pollution from drainage or fuel storage tanks

For more information on the technical aspects of the Building Regulations please see the technical guidance page.

Back to top

When do I need to apply and how much does it cost?

The regulations can apply to any building work, for example:

• The construction or extension of any type of building
• Changing the use of an existing building
• General alterations to a building
• New drainage installations.
• Any structural alterations
• Loft and garage conversions
• Any work likely to affect means of escape in a fire
• Any refurbishment of 'thermal elements' (for example, those parts of a building which separate heated spaces from unheated spaces or from outside)
• Underpinning to foundations
• New bathrooms/toilets (except straightforward like-for-like replacements)
• Replacement windows and doors
• New heating or hot water systems of any kind
• Domestic electrical works

Please note: this list is not exhaustive -  if you are unsure whether your building work requires building regulations consent please contact us to discuss things  in more detail.

For the relevant application forms and details of our charges, visit the building control process and application forms page

If you are having construction work done as part of a trade or business, for example as a landlord or a property developer you may need to notify the Health and Safety Executive.

You may also need to apply for planning permission for the building work, visit our planning pages for further information.

Back to top

An overview of our Building Control service

The Building Regulations cover a wide range of technical subject areas and there is a great deal of flexibility in how you can meet the standards. The standards are also regularly  updated which means that finding the best way to meet the Building Regulations can be a challenge even for those working in the industry.

We will work closely with you to ensure you have the help you need to meet the Building Regulations right from the start. Our surveyors aim to integrate themselves as part of your team, whether that is with you and your builder in the case of a small project, or as part of a wider team of professionals on larger commercial projects.

Whilst most have the best intentions, sadly, rogue traders do exist and the poor quality of their work can be devastating in its effects on you and your property. In these circumstances, our legal powers of enforcement can provide a valuable first line of defence against such traders, as does the valuable link we maintain with the council’s Trading Standards service over these cases.

What you can expect from us

• Competent pre-application advice and guidance
• Professionally qualified and experienced surveyors
• Unrivalled expertise across the full range of project types, supported by our interaction with a network of local authority building control surveyors throughout England and Wales
• A pro-active approach to help you achieve quality and cost-effective solutions
• Competitive fees, set on a non-profit basis
• A local base in Herefordshire, enabling us to react quickly to your needs (including a same-day site visit service where required)
• Partnership arrangements, allowing you to progress your design work with the local authority of your choice if you are based outside of Herefordshire
• Knowledge of local conditions and issues in the county
• Valuable links to other parts of Herefordshire Council (Planning, Environmental Health, Trading Standards)
• Long-standing close relationships with other local organisations, such as the Fire and Rescue Service
• The option to use fully electronic web and email based services
• Added value services to support the Building Control process through our membership of the LABC network

Back to top