Apply for building control approval with full plans for large-scale building projects

You'll need to submit a building control application for approval with full plans for work related to:

any new buildings
extensions or alterations to any building other than small single-storey domestic extensions
extensive internal structural alterations to any building
loft conversions

Structural or architectural drawings and calculations will need to be submitted when you apply.

Fees

Fees are based on the work you want to carry out. View our building control fees.

You can apply for approval with full plans online.

Apply now

Contact the Building Control team in your local area:

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 the work has been started or completed without getting approval, you'll need to apply for a regularisation certificate.

If you need advice, you can contact building control.