The Future of Building Control: Consultation Paper

On 18 March 2008, Communities and Local Government published: The Future of Building Control:Consultation paper which sets out and seeks views on proposals by Government for changes to the building control system in England and Wales. The consultation closed on the 10 June 2008.

The changes proposed are designed to address weaknesses in the current system, as identified by users of the system and the building control industry itself, and are intended to both improve compliance with the Building Regulations and further reduce the burdens associated with the system and deliver a service that is customer focused.  

Summary of Consultation Proposals:

The Department was consulting on a range of proposals and asking a number of questions on each. These proposals fell into the following five areas:

• developing a vision for building control
• establishing a better approach to the way we deliver regulations and guidance
• modernising inspection and enforcement
• providing alternative routes to compliance
• enabling improved performance and capacity

We were also conducting a parallel mini-survey, directed at householders, on one proposal (to restrict Building Notices). 

Related Publications

Alongside the consultation paper the department published The Future of Building Control:Impact Assessments covering the key proposals.

To support the development and analysis of the proposals in the consultation paper and impact assessments, the department commissioned a Survey of Building Control Bodies and a report on the Economic analysis of changes to the Building Control Procedures which are also publicly available on the Communities and Local Government website.

In March last year Communities and Local Government published a short document Future of Building Control which set out the key areas for reform that had the potential to address the main weaknesses in the building control system.

Contact Details

email: thefuture@communities.gsi.gov.uk

or

Respond in writing, using the following addresss:
Sustainable Buildings Division
Communities and Local Government
Floor 2, Zone H6
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London
SW1E 5DU