Apply for full plans building control approval
Use this application for large-scale building work that requires a full plans application, including:
- new buildings
- extensions or alterations to a building (other than small single-storey domestic extensions)
- extensive internal structural alterations
- loft conversions
You'll need to submit structural or architectural drawings and calculations as part of your application.
Find out more about full plans applications (Planning Portal).
Fees
Fees are based on the work you want to carry out. View our building control fees.
Apply online
You can apply for approval with full plans online.
You can also apply:
- by completing a building regulations application form (DOCX, 80 KB)
- by completing the application form on the Planning Portal
Apply by phone
Contact the Building Control team in your local area:
- Aylesbury Vale: 01296 585 460
- Chiltern and South Bucks: 01895 837 296
- Wycombe: 01494 421 403
Starting the work
You can start work 48 hours after we've received your application and payment.
We recommended that you wait for approval before you start the work. This way the builder will have approved plans to work with.
Before you start any work, you should notify building control and book a site inspection.
If you're considering any building work you should choose a builder very carefully and check any builder out before employing their services.
You should:
- consider employing a professional to advise you. Surveyors and architects can help appoint builders and will monitor their work on your behalf
- always obtain at least 3 written quotations and check them to ensure that all the work is quoted for
- don’t automatically go for the cheapest quote especially if it is a lot cheaper than the others. Ask yourself why it is cheaper
- try to visit 3 or 4 builder’s recently completed jobs. If possible speak to the owners about the builder’s work and ask about reliability, additional costs, quality and time taken
- be wary of a builder who wants money before starting the work, although stage payments as work progresses are normal
- builders often advertise that they are members of a trade association. You should check the validity of any claim and association quoted
- if the builder is not local and is prepared to travel a long distance to undertake the work, ask yourself why he can’t get work in his own area
- good builders will be happy to answer your questions and queries, as they have nothing to hide
- do not make final payment until Building Control has issued a final certificate
We cannot recommend builders to you, but you may find these websites useful:
If you have started or finished work without proper approval
If the work has been started or completed without getting approval, you'll need to apply for a regularisation certificate.
Help with your application
If you need advice, you can contact building control.