Apply for building control with full plans
Apply for building control with full plans
Most types of building work need building control approval.
Any notifiable electrical works or works including gas appliances such as boilers, cookers, gas fires, must be carried out by a member of a Competent Persons Scheme. This includes NICEIC, ELECSA, NAPIT, STROMA for electrical work and GAS SAFE for gas works. If you use a member of the scheme, you do not need additional building control approval for electrical or gas works.
If you apply for building control approval with full plans, we will check your proposals before you begin the work. It is your responsibility to explain how the work complies with the regulations.
Applying with full plans gives you more certainty about your final project costs. If you need to change a plan that was not approved beforehand, it can be more expensive in the long term.
Building control is different from planning permission and you might need both. Use our online tool to find out if you need planning permission.
Who can apply
The GOV.UK website has more information about when you need building control approval.
We recommend a full plans application for any building work, and especially larger projects. You must apply with full plans if the works:
- relate to a ‘designated use’, such as shops, offices, railways or hotels
- are over a sewer
- involve a building which fronts onto a private street
If your project will cost more than £900,000, speak to our technical team first by emailing [email protected].
When not to apply
If you are planning work to a higher-risk building, you need to apply to the Building Safety Regulator instead.
A higher-risk building is defined as having at least:
- 7 storeys or is at least 18 metres high
- 2 residential units or is a hospital or a care home
You can view a list of higher-risk buildings in Camden.
How to apply
To complete your application, you need to include:
- detailed plans of the proposed works
- structural calculations
- precautions you will take if building over or near to a sewer
- a payment for the relevant charge
You can refer to the notes and checklist for full plans application (PDF)
The first payment is taken during your application process and we will calculate the correct charges for you. The second payment is due after the first inspection.
If you cancel your application after it has been registered on our system, it will be subject to a minimum administration charge.
If you cannot complete the online application form, download and complete the full plans application (PDF).
What happens next
We will validate your application. This means that we have received:
- your completed application form
- payment
- drawings or a demolition statement if necessary
Once validated, we will tell you the name of the surveyor who will support you on the project.
We will give you a decision within 6 weeks, but it may take up to 2 months for more complex works.
The surveyor needs to inspect all building works at the beginning and on completion of your project. You may also need other inspections, depending on the works you are doing and the type of application you submit.
Find out more about building control inspections.
If your work is complete and you need a completion certificate, read our information on building control certificates. You must complete a regulation completion notice (PDF) before a completion certificate is issued.