How To Make An Application

There are two ways to submit an application to Hart for approval under the Building Regulations, the fees charged for the service are the same which ever route is taken.

The Building Notice procedure is a method of submitting an application for building work, and is suitable for straightforward work of a simple nature, it does not require the submission of detailed plans and no formal approval is given. It is particularly appropriate for work of limited extent.

A Building Notice can not be given if the proposal is for work that is non-domestic, for example to fit out a shop or extend an office or if the work is over or adjacent to a Public Sewer. With a Building Notice the initial fee required to accompany the submission includes the fees that cover all inspections.

The alternative is a Full Plans application,(this is not the same as a Planning Application which is controlled under different legislation) which includes the submission of detailed building plans and specifications, which we check for compliance with the Building Regulations before the issue of a formal approval.

The benefit of this system is that for more complicated work you have the protection of an approved design and are safe in the knowledge that Building Regulation related problems should be minimal in the build process.

Under this system there is initially a plan check fee to pay on submission that makes up approximately 25% of the total fee, the remainder is invoiced to the person carrying out the work (normally the occupier) at the commencement of the work.

Once your Full plans application or Building Notice is accepted, if you wish to start work you should contact this office to arrange for site inspections to be carried out.

You must submit a full plans application if the work relates to a building that is to be built over or near a public sewer, or put to a 'Relevant Use'. This includes Hotels and Boarding Houses and Workplaces. Please contact the Building Control office if you require clarification of this point.

You should also contact the Development Control Section to check if Planning Permission is required for your proposal.