Shore is proud to have created a team of professional surveyors who are committed to providing a quality service across a wide range of developments. Our extensive experience in the private building control field ensures that we have an excellent reputation and many of our clients return to us again and again.
Whether you need to instruct our residential building control team for your next domestic extension, refurbishment or loft conversion, you can be assured that our comprehensive building control services will assist you in understanding strict industry regulations. When you hire Shore to carry out plan reviews and site inspections or work at the pre-planning stage, you’ll have confidence that your domestic building project will have been reviewed and inspected by building control experts.
Our domestic building control team covering London, East Anglia and the home counties, will support you throughout every stage of your project from design right through to completion. We can assist you with your project, guiding you through the regulations and how to satisfy the Building Regulations so that you receive your Final Certificate.
Shore can provide a range of services including pre-application advice, checking of drawings and specifications, statutory consultations, approving finalised drawings and site inspections, along with other services for you including:
Shore has an enviable reputation in the private building control industry, having built up a large volume of delighted customers who we’ve worked with over the past 15 years. During this time, we’ve forged long-lasting relationships with a fantastic selection of project managers, contractors and designers which enable us to provide the perfect private building control services for your next project.
We can offer you our vast industry experience regardless of the size or value of your project. Our professional residential building control team will treat each job as being entirely unique so we can carefully evaluate your specific needs to deliver an effective service.
Shore building inspectors work across London, Essex and the home counties, with our central team who are based in Essex. We’re authorised by the Government and licensed by BSR (Building Safety Regulator) which allows us to legally conduct building control work anywhere in England.
To make an appointment or if you have any queries at all about our services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Shore. Our professional team of private Registered Buliding Inspectors are ready to take your call! Contact us today.
We provide support and advice across a range of different construction projects and industry sectors, providing an effective and efficient approach to Building Control from design to completion:
Regardless of the size of your project, we offer the same high quality and professional services from conception through to completion.
Applications should be submitted to us a minimum of 5 days prior to works commencing. This is to allow us sufficient time to serve the Initial Notice to the Local Authority.
If you would like us to review your plans and specifications the earlier we receive your application, the more chance we will have to address any issues before work commences on site, avoiding unnecessary delays.
A Building Control application can be made with Shore by downloading and completing the form, and sending it to us by email or post.
We will usually require suitable and sufficient drawings and calculations, including fire strategies and structural calculations to enable us to check for compliance with the Building Regulations.
What happens next?
Work should not be started until after the Initial Notice approval period, which is a maximum of 5 working days from submission of the Notice.
The person responsible for carrying out the work must notify Shore at certain stages of the project to enable suitable inspections to be undertaken.
Once the work has been completed, a final inspection has been carried out and all relevant commissioning certificates have been received, a Final Certificate is issued to the person responsible for carrying out the work. A copy of which is also provided to the relevant Local Authority and the Fire Authority (where necessary).
The Final Certificate is an important statutory document providing evidence that the project has achieved a reasonable level of compliance with the Building Regulations and may be required when selling, refinancing or satisfying the requirements for a licence to alter.
Regulation 38
Under Regulation 38 of the Building Regulations 2010, upon completion of the works confirmation is required that the fire safety information for the area where the work has been carried out has been updated and provided to the responsible person for the building. This shall be upon completion or occupation, whichever is earliest.
Is there a time limit for works to commence on site?
Once we have received your application you have a time limit of three years for works to start on site. Unfortunately, if you have not started work within three years the application is cancelled. However, you are able to make a new application which Shore would be able to assist you with.
Once work has commenced you have an unlimited time to complete the work. However, if occupation takes places then specific time limits will apply in which you will need to complete the work.
Inspections are carried out at various key stages of your project and although schedules are agreed in advance, you or your contractor will need to advise us when each key stage is reached to arrange an inspection.
When contacting us to arrange an inspection we will need the following information from you:
To book your inspection contact us.
If you are at all unsure about whether or not your project needs Building Control approval then we advise you to contact us before you start work – we are here to help.
A common misunderstanding of the Building Regulations is what they do and do not cover:
The regulations apply to any “building work” and therefore you need to submit an application before proceeding. In general terms, the definition of building works covers:
Some “building work” is classed as “exempt” under the Building Regulations, these include certain ground floor attached and detached buildings.
Also, some installation work doesn’t require a Building Regulation Application, however, this only applies when the installer of the work is registered with the related Self Certification Scheme, for example:
Exempt attached buildings:
An extension at ground floor level with a floor area not exceeding 30 square metres being:
Exempt detached buildings:
Garages, sheds and outbuildings, providing they are single storey and:
Greenhouses:
Providing they are not used for retailing or exhibiting.
Agricultural Buildings:
Including those used for horticultural, fruit growing, the growing of plants for seed and fish farming, but not those used for packing or exhibition, provided that:
Temporary Buildings:
If it is intended to remain where erected for less than 28 days:
Should you have any doubts, or wish to double check your own conclusions, please contact us to check, it may save you considerable problems in the future. Also, note that some of the exempt works mentioned above may require planning permission.
Conservatories:
A conservatory is exempt from Building Regulations providing:
Changing Windows:
Some installers are trained and registered under the Glass and Glazing Federations FENSA scheme (another scheme is CERTASS). These are able to self-certify replacement windows and doors and then give householders a compliance certificate. If this is not the case then you will need to make a Building Regulations application for the works.
Outbuildings:
If you want to put up small detached buildings such as a garden shed or summerhouse in your garden, building regulations will not normally apply if the floor area of the building is less than 15 square metres and contains NO sleeping accommodation.
If the floor area of the building is between 15 square metres and 30 square metres, you will not normally be required to apply for building regulations approval providing that the building contains NO sleeping accommodation and is either at least one metre from any boundary or it is constructed substantially of non-combustible materials.
This section provides you with general information to help you comply with the Building Regulations when constructing a new outbuilding within the boundaries of an existing property, such as:
Building a new garage attached to an existing home would normally need building regulations approval.
Building a newly attached carport (open on at least two sides) would not normally require building regulations approval if it is less than 30 square metres in floor area.
Building a detached garage of less than 30 square metres floor area would not normally need building regulations approval if:
If you want to convert an integral or attached garage into habitable use, building regulations will normally apply so please contact us.
In many cases, these structures will be exempt from requiring approval under the Building Regulations if they meet certain exemption criteria.
If the regulations do apply to the building then it must be built to reasonable standards.
If you need further guidance on the requirements of the regulations, or would like to discuss appointing us for a particular project please do get in touch.
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