Planning and Building Regulations Applcations

A large part of NPR Associates' work centres on Local Authority drawings / applications.

Below is a brief summary to help clients understand the various procedures involved in making applications to the Local Authority:

Planning

Planning control is the method by which Local Authorities and Central Government control development within the United Kingdom.  In addition to the Planning Act, each Council has developed numerous Local Policies giving guidance for acceptable developments.  These Acts and Local Policies are interpreted and enforced by the Local Authority Planning Department.

There is a limited amount of extension work that can normally be carried out to a property under "Permitted Development Rights". These are explained in greater detail at:

www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/1011888239467.html

Even though it may not be necessary to obtain Planning Permission, accurate drawings showing the required appearance of the extension are still necessary to ensure your Builder knows exactly what you want and to explain your intentions to neighbours etc...

For most average to large extensions, Planning Permission is usually required and the following is a list of what a typical Application will consist of:

  • 1:50 scale Existing and Proposed Floor Plans
  • 1:100 scale Existing and Proposed Elevations
  • 1:500 scale Proposed Block Plan
  • 1:1250 scale Site Plan
  • Completed Local Authority Application forms
  • Local Authority Fee Cheque

The Local Authority are obliged under Government Performance Guidelines to deal with applications within 8 weeks.

A Full Planning Application containing all of these items can normally be prepared and submitted by NPR Associates within 2 weeks of undertaking the measured survey.

Building Regulations

These are a collection of Minimum Standards of Construction set down by an Act of Parliament and enforced by the Local Authority Building Control Department.

Almost all extensions will require separate Building Regulations Approval prior to a Builder starting work.  It is advisable to await receipt of Planning Approval before proceeding with Building Regulations drawings.

A typical Full Plans Building Regulations Application will consist of:

  • 1:50 scale Existing and Proposed Floor Plans
  • 1:100 scale Existing and Proposed Elevations
  • 1:50 / 1:20 scale Section through the Extension
  • 1:10 details of critical parts of the Construction
  • Building Regulations and Construction notes showing compliance with the current Building Regulations and giving a Builder enough information to accurately price the work
  • Electrical Part P Certificate
  • U Value Calculations Sheet for main elements of Construction
  • Completed Local Authority Application forms
  • Local Authority fee cheque
  • Structural Calculations of the key Structural Elements, (by others)

The Local Authority are obilged under Government Performance Guidelines to deal with applications within 5 weeks.

A Full Building Regulations Application containing all of these items can normally be prepared and submitted by NPR Associates within 2 weeks of receiving the client's instruction to proceed.