Apply for building control

Building control approval with full plans

This is the most thorough option.

If you apply for building control approval with full plans, you will need to provide plans and documents before you start work, showing all construction details.

We will assess your plans and consult with other authorities if necessary (such as fire or sewage). We will issue you with a decision notice within eight weeks of receiving your application.

The decision notice will tell you if:

  • we approve your plans and you can start work
  • you need to modify your plans before you can start work
  • you need to provide more details
  • we are issuing a conditional approval
  • we refuse your plans

If we approve your plans, your approval notice will be valid for three years from the date we issue the decision notice.

Apply for building control approval with full plans

For a plans submission, you need to submit:

  • one copy of the application form
  • copies of the architectural drawings and construction specification
    • two copies for residential properties
    • three copies for non-residential properties
  • the correct payment

You can look at our fees and charges to work out how much you have to pay.

You can make your payment by:

  • paying online
  • phoning our Customer Services team and using a debit or credit card

You can contact us if you are not sure how much you have to pay. We can provide you with the correct fees for projects that are complex or contain multiple works.

We can only carry our site inspections after you have paid your application fee.

We will issue a completion certificate when you have finished the work, providing that:

  • you have notified us at the correct stages of the building works
  • and the work is satisfactory

Building Control

Address: Causeway House
Bocking End
Braintree
Essex
CM7 9HB

Telephone: 01376 557781