What are Building Regulations
Once planning permission is secured, the next stage is Building Regulations approval. This is a separate legal requirement from planning. It ensures your building works meet minimum standards for safety, health, energy performance and accessibility.
Building Regulations set the technical standards for how a building is constructed. They cover structural stability, fire safety, thermal performance, ventilation, drainage, accessibility and electrical safety. Every new build, extension, conversion and alteration must comply before work starts on site.
Approval by a Building Control Surveyor is mandatory. You cannot legally occupy or complete a building without it. The regulations protect future occupants, neighbours and the wider public from unsafe or substandard construction.
England and Wales
Building Regulations differ between England and Wales. In England, the regulations sit under the Building Act 1984 and the Building Regulations 2010. In Wales, the Welsh Government sets its own Building Regulations separately.
The core principles are similar, but the technical requirements differ in several areas. Part L, covering energy and fuel conservation, is stricter in Wales. Water efficiency limits also differ, with Wales setting a lower maximum per person per day. Ventilation standards and accessibility requirements also vary.
We work across both jurisdictions. Our team understands the differences and ensures your drawings meet the correct standards for your location. Whether your project sits in Shropshire, Cheshire or anywhere in Wales, we get the details right.
How we approach it
We love developing the detailed design at this stage. Planning drawings communicate the concept, but construction drawings bring it to life. This is where we translate your design vision into buildable, technically robust documentation.
We do not let the design intent dilute during this stage. Many practices hand technical work to junior staff or external drafters. Instead, we keep your project in-house and under Director led oversight throughout. Every detail, from wall construction to junction details, reflects the design decisions we made together during the planning stage.
The result is a construction drawing pack that is both fully compliant and faithful to your vision. We produce detailed plans, sections, construction details, schedules and specifications. Everything a contractor needs to price the work accurately and build it correctly.
Consultant coordination
Building Regulations drawings often require specialist input. We coordinate all of the following on your behalf:
Structural Engineers provide calculations and structural details for foundations, beams, load-bearing walls and complex structural elements. We brief them, review their work and integrate their details into our drawings.
Building Control Surveyors check your drawings and inspect the work on site. You have two options here. The first is the Local Authority Building Control department, known as LABC. Alternatively, you can appoint a private Approved Inspector. Both routes achieve the same result, but the process and fees differ.
We advise on the best route for your project and manage the relationship throughout. Private Approved Inspectors can offer faster turnaround and a single point of contact. Local Authority Building Control carries statutory enforcement powers and works well for straightforward schemes.
SAP Calculations assess the predicted energy performance of a new dwelling. A qualified assessor produces these to demonstrate Part L compliance. We coordinate the assessment and adjust our details if the results require changes to the building fabric.
Energy Performance Certificates, or EPCs, are needed when you construct, extend or sell a building. For new builds, the assessor produces the EPC from the SAP calculation. We coordinate all necessary energy assessments and make sure they pass certification.
Water Calculations demonstrate compliance with Part G. They confirm the predicted water consumption per person per day. In Wales, the limit is 110 litres. In England, the standard limit is 125 litres, though some councils in areas of water scarcity require 110. We ensure your design meets the correct target for your location.
Our commitment
We treat Building Regulations and engagement with a Building Control officer as a design opportunity, not a compliance exercise. Every construction detail we produce serves the overall architecture. Each specification we write supports the quality and performance of the finished building.
By keeping the technical work in-house and under Director oversight, we protect your investment and your design vision from planning through to construction.
Ask us about Building Regulations and construction drawings for your project.