One of the questions we’re often asked by clients is what a Building Control inspection actually involves. The answer depends on the project and, importantly, what stage the work has reached.

At Complete Building Control Ltd, our Registered Building Inspectors work with site teams throughout construction, carrying out the necessary inspections at the appropriate stages of the project.

Why are Building Control inspections needed?

Building Control inspections allow relevant elements of the work to be inspected as construction progresses.

Timing is important. Some parts of a building are very easy to inspect while work is underway but much more difficult once concrete has been poured, walls have been closed up or finishes have been applied.

That’s why we work closely with the site team to make sure inspections are carried out at the right stages.

What might a Building Inspector look at?

There isn’t a single inspection checklist that applies to every project.

A domestic extension will have very different requirements to a large commercial development, for example.

Depending on the project, inspections may look at areas such as foundations, drainage, structural work, insulation and other relevant elements of the construction.

The inspector will consider the work in relation to the Building Regulations and the information provided for the project.

What about structural work?

Structural alterations are a common reason for Building Control involvement.

This might include steelwork, alterations to load-bearing walls, new openings or more substantial structural elements on larger developments.

Where structural calculations, drawings or other supporting information form part of the project, these may also need to be considered alongside the work taking place on site.

Fire safety, thermal performance and accessibility

Building Regulations cover much more than the structure itself.

Depending on the development, the project may also need to demonstrate compliance in areas including fire safety, thermal performance, ventilation and accessibility.

These are areas where early discussions can be particularly useful.

Through our Pre-Application Advice service, CBC can work with architects and developers before a full Building Regulation Application is made, helping the design team identify potential issues before construction begins.

Do I need to wait for the Building Inspector before continuing work?

The important thing is to keep your Building Control team informed about the progress of the project and arrange inspections when required.

If work that needs to be inspected is covered before an inspection takes place, it can make demonstrating compliance more difficult.

Good communication between the contractor, client and Building Control team can make the process much smoother.

What happens at the end of the project?

Building Control doesn’t begin and end with a single site visit. Inspections form part of the wider Building Control process, alongside the assessment of plans and supporting information and, where necessary, statutory consultations.

When the project has been successfully completed, and all of the necessary paperwork and certification are in order, CBC issues the Final Certificate.

Need a Building Control inspection?

If you’re already working with Complete Building Control Ltd, you can request your next site inspection through our Inspection Request Form.

If you’re planning a new domestic or commercial project and would like CBC to provide your Building Control service, get in touch with our team to discuss the development.

Complete Building Control Ltd provides practical, professional Building Control support from the design stage through to completion.

 

Planning an extension, conversion, refurbishment or new development in Birmingham? One of the things you’ll need to consider is whether your project needs Building Regulations approval.

It’s an area that can sometimes cause confusion, particularly because Building Regulations and Planning Permission are not the same thing.

A project may not need Planning Permission but can still need Building Control involvement.

What do Building Regulations cover?

Building Regulations set standards for the design and construction of buildings and cover important areas such as:

• Structural stability
• Fire safety
• Ventilation
• Drainage
• Energy efficiency
• Thermal performance
• Accessibility

Exactly what applies will depend on the type and complexity of your project.

At Complete Building Control Ltd, our Registered Building Inspectors work across both domestic and commercial developments, so the approach we take is tailored to the individual project.

What sort of projects need Building Control?

Building Regulations can apply to a wide range of work.

For homeowners, this commonly includes extensions, loft and garage conversions, structural alterations and new-build properties.

For commercial clients and developers, Building Control can be involved in everything from alterations to existing premises through to much larger development projects.

The requirements can vary considerably, which is why it’s always worth establishing what’s required before work gets underway.

What happens at the design stage?

Where required, Complete Building Control can carry out a detailed examination of the plans for the proposed development.

This allows us to look at the design against the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations and Approved Documents.

For more complicated projects, there isn’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all solution. Our Registered Building Inspectors can work with architects and design teams to consider practical ways of demonstrating compliance where appropriate.

CBC can also manage the necessary statutory consultations with the Sewage Authority and Fire Authority on behalf of our clients.

Is it worth speaking to Building Control early?

Yes, absolutely. We’ve seen how useful early Building Control involvement can be, particularly where a project has more complicated fire safety, thermal, accessibility or construction requirements.

Complete Building Control offers a dedicated Pre-Application Advice service which allows architects and developers to discuss a proposed project with our team before making a full Building Regulation Application.

It gives us an opportunity to highlight potential issues while the project is still being designed.

Finding a problem on a drawing is generally much easier than trying to rectify it once work has started on site.

What happens during construction?

Once construction is underway, our Registered Building Inspectors carry out the necessary site inspections at the relevant stages of the project.

We work closely with the site team to make sure inspections are arranged at the right time, helping to avoid unnecessary delays and ensuring important elements of the work can be inspected before they are covered.

Once the project has been successfully completed and all of the required paperwork and certification are in order, CBC issues the Final Certificate.

Looking for Building Control in Birmingham?

Complete Building Control Ltd provides Building Control services for domestic and commercial projects, with our Head Office based in Birmingham.

Whether you’re a homeowner planning an extension, an architect working on a new scheme or a developer managing a larger project, our team can provide practical Building Control support from design through to completion.

Contact Complete Building Control Ltd to discuss your Birmingham project or request a quotation.

If you’re planning building work, you may have heard the term private Building Control and wondered what it means or how it differs from using your local authority.

For many building projects in England, you have a choice over who provides your Building Control service. Complete Building Control Ltd (CBC) provides a professional Building Control service for domestic and commercial projects, working with homeowners, architects, developers and contractors from the design stage through to completion.

What is private Building Control?

Private Building Control allows you to appoint a Registered Building Control Approver rather than using the Building Control department of the local authority.

The purpose remains the same – to assess building work against the requirements of the Building Regulations.

These regulations cover a wide range of areas including structural safety, fire safety, drainage, ventilation, energy efficiency and accessibility.

It is also worth remembering that Building Control and Planning Permission are separate. Depending on the work you are undertaking, your project may need both.

What does CBC do?

Every project is different, which is why we tailor our Building Control service to the particular development.

Where required, we can undertake a detailed examination of the plans and supporting information. This helps designers establish whether the proposals demonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations before construction progresses.

For more complex projects, our Registered Building Inspectors can also work directly with the design team to look at practical ways of demonstrating compliance.

We can also manage the relevant statutory consultations with the Sewage Authority and Fire Authority on behalf of our clients, collating the feedback so that the design team can respond to any issues raised.

What happens once work starts?

Our involvement continues throughout construction.

Our Registered Building Inspectors carry out the necessary site inspections as the project progresses, working with the site team to make sure inspections take place at the right stages.

The inspections required will depend on the project, but the important point is that Building Control should be kept informed as work progresses. This means relevant elements of the construction can be inspected before they are covered up.

What happens when the project is finished?

Once the project has been successfully completed and the necessary paperwork and certification are in order, CBC can issue the Final Certificate.

This is why we encourage clients to think about Building Control as part of the whole project rather than something that only needs to be dealt with at the end.

Can you speak to CBC before submitting an application?

Yes, and on many projects this can be extremely useful. Our Pre-Application Advice service gives architects and developers the opportunity to discuss a project with us before making a full Building Regulation Application.

We can look at key areas such as fire safety, thermal requirements and accessibility, helping the design team identify potential issues at an early stage.

Often, dealing with an issue while a project is still on the drawing board is much easier and less costly than trying to rectify it once construction has started.

Looking for private Building Control?

Complete Building Control Ltd works across domestic and commercial developments throughout England.

Whether you’re planning an extension, converting an existing property or working on a larger development, our team can provide Building Control support from the early design stages through to completion.

Get in touch with Complete Building Control Ltd to discuss your project or request a quotation.

 

Requests for Part Final Certificates are becoming more common place. This guidance note looks to bring about a common understanding and interpretation of the approach Complete Building Control Ltd should take.

Occupation Prior To Completion Of Works

Regulation 19 Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc.) (England) Regulations 2024 allows for the occupation of a building prior to completion but limits the period, of occupation without final certificate, to

• 4 weeks for works where the RRO applies, and;
• 8 weeks for other works

If the Final Certificate is not issued within the appropriate time limit the InitialNotice would cease to be in force.
Potentially an extension of time under Regulation 19 (7) could be applied for but care must be taken to ensure this is justifiable and the client is not “playing the system”.

Partial Final Certificates

Complete Building Control Ltd will issue Partial Final Certificates, but the Duty Holders must document their approach to compliance of that part and its interaction with any incomplete elements of the building for consideration before we agree to the approach in principle.

Key considerations are:

1. The works subject to the Part Final Certificate must be clearly and precisely defined, it may be helpful for the Duty Holders to support their description with drawings marked to show the extent of the applicable works.

2. That the part subject to the request for a Final Certificate is complete and can be occupied safely and independently of any ongoing works on the remainder of the project. All parts of the Building Regulations need to be considered but particular care should be taken over Parts A, B, F, H, L, M and S Approved Documents.

3. If required, the Fire Authority have been consulted prior to completion in accordance with Regulation 9 The Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc.) (England) Regulations 2024)

Consider all provisions under Regulation 4 of The Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc.) (England) Regulations 2024 – Functions of the Approvers to ensure requirements can be met for the part of the building not just the whole. This may be seen as particularly problematic in terms of the provision of EPCs, but if the Duty Holders are seeking a Partial Final Certificate, they must provide an EPC for the “completed part”.

4. Has the Principal Designer and Principal Contractor under the The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
made adequate provision to ensure the independence and safety of the “completed part” is maintained whilst site activity continues.

Consideration should be made to ensure:

a. – No site activity, delivery through common parts is undertaken.

b. – Maintenance of access for Fire Authority at all times, both inside
and outside of the building (including site access).

c. – Independence of all active fire systems and mechanical services
serving the “completed part”.

d. – Maintaining structural integrity of the “completed part”.

e. – Maintaining drainage to “completed part”

As with a full Final Certificate, the Duty Holders must ensure that:

5. All relevant requirements, in terms provision of testing and information,Part 6 to Part 9 of the Building Regulations 2010 have been satisfactorily met.

6. The Duty Holders have provided their Declarations of Compliance 3 underRegulation 18 The Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc.)(England) Regulations 2024 with regards to “completed part”.

KEY NOTE:

RBIs are not duty bound to accept the request for the issue of a Part Final Certificate. Key to accepting the proposal is the Duty Holders evidencing that they have satisfactory fulfilled their duty to plan, manage and monitor in relation to the request. It may be appropriate to remind the Duty Holders that they alone are responsible for allowing occupation and that this decision is subject to the same plan, manage and monitor principle.

The above is not an exhaustive list of considerations. At all times the RBI should be inquisitive. Where the RBI is uncertain about the appropriateness of giving a Part Final Certificate, the consideration should be peer reviewed by a Class 4 Technical Manager or Director of Complete Building Control Ltd.

Building Safety Levy – What Developers Need to Know

The Building Safety Levy is a new charge on residential development in England that is due to come into force in 1st October 2026. Introduced under the Building Safety Act 2022, the Levy forms part of the Government’s wider programme of building safety reform and is expected to raise approximately £3.4 billion to support building safety-related expenditure.

Following two industry consultations, implementation of the Levy was deferred by 12 months, with the new commencement date now set for 1st October 2026.

Who Will Pay the Levy?

The Levy applies to developers of new residential buildings and is linked directly to the building control process.
It will be administered by the relevant local authority, which will calculate the Levy liability and issue a Levy Liability Notice. If changes are made to the development during construction—for example, an increase in Affordable Housing provision—the authority can issue an Update Notice to amend the amount payable.

How Is the Levy Calculated?

Levy rates have been set individually for every local authority area in England and are based on local property values.

Each authority has two published rates:

• Brownfield development rate – charged per square metre of gross internal floor area (GIA)
• Greenfield development rate – charged at double the equivalent brownfield rate.

As the Levy is calculated using gross internal floor area, communal areas within apartment buildings are included, meaning charges also apply to space that is not saleable.

Exemptions

Certain developments are exempt from paying the Building Safety Levy, including:

• Affordable Housing.
• Care homes.
• Other specific development types identified within the regulations.

Developers should review the applicable exemptions carefully when planning a scheme.

Transitional Arrangements

There are important transitional provisions for projects already in the building control system.

• Initial Notices submitted before 1st October 2026 will not be liable for the Building Safety Levy, provided construction commences within an initial three-year transition period.
• If work has not commenced within that three-year period, or if the project requires re-registration of the Initial Notice, the development will become liable for the Levy.

Developers should therefore consider programme timings carefully to ensure they understand whether a project falls within the transitional arrangements.

When Is Payment Due?

The Building Safety Levy must be paid before the first Final Certificate can be issued for any dwelling on the development.
Failure to pay the Levy will prevent completion certification from being issued, potentially delaying occupation and handover of the development.

How Complete Building Control Ltd Can Help?

The introduction of the Building Safety Levy adds another important administrative requirement for residential developments. While the Levy is administered by local authorities, it is closely connected to the building control process.

Complete Building Control Ltd can help developers understand how the new requirements apply to their projects, identify whether transitional arrangements or exemptions may be available, and ensure applications progress smoothly through the building control process. Early engagement can help avoid unnecessary delays to certification and project completion.

Contact our team for more information. 

Many people think Building Control only becomes involved once construction starts. In reality, involving Building Control at the beginning of your project can help avoid unnecessary delays and costly changes later.

Early Collaboration

At Complete Building Control Ltd, our Registered Building Inspectors work closely with homeowners, architects, designers, builders and developers from the earliest stages of a project.

This allows potential Building Regulations issues to be identified before work begins.

Pre-Application Advice

We also offer pre-application advice (subject to appointment instruction), providing guidance during the design stage. This helps clients prepare compliant proposals before plans are formally submitted.

Plan Checking

Before construction starts, submitted plans are reviewed to help ensure compliance with current Building Regulations.

Working together with the design team creates a smoother approval process and reduces the likelihood of unexpected issues during construction.

Site Inspections

Throughout the build, inspections take place at key stages to help ensure work complies with the approved plans and Building Regulations.

Our inspectors remain available throughout the project to provide practical guidance and answer questions as work progresses.

Professional Support Throughout Your Project

Whether you’re planning a home extension, renovation, structural alteration or commercial development, Complete Building Control Ltd provides Building Control services from the earliest planning stages through to completion.

Our collaborative approach helps clients, builders and architects deliver compliant projects with confidence.

Building Control and Planning Permission are often confused, but they serve very different purposes. Understanding the difference can help your project progress more smoothly.

What is Building Control?

Building Control ensures that construction work complies with the Building Regulations 2010.

This includes areas such as:

• Structural stability
• Fire safety
• Energy efficiency
• Ventilation
• Drainage
• Accessibility

Building Control applies to many types of domestic and commercial building work.

What is Planning Permission?

Planning Permission relates to how land and buildings are used and how developments affect the surrounding area. Not every project requires Planning Permission, but many projects still require Building Control approval.

Why Early Advice Matters

One of the best ways to avoid delays is to involve your Building Control team as early as possible. Complete Building Control Ltd offers pre-application advice (subject to appointment instruction), allowing architects, developers and homeowners to consider Building Regulations requirements before construction begins.
Supporting Projects From Start to Finish

Our Registered Building Inspectors work alongside architects, builders and developers from the planning stage through to project completion.

This collaborative approach helps ensure compliance while keeping projects moving efficiently.

If you’re unsure whether your project requires Building Control, our experienced team will be happy to discuss your requirements. Contact our team today.

If you’re planning a house extension, one of the most common questions is whether Building Control approval is required.
In most cases, the answer is yes.

Building Control helps ensure that building work complies with the Building Regulations 2010, covering important areas such as structural stability, fire safety, drainage, insulation and ventilation.

Why Building Control Matters

Building Regulations exist to ensure that building work is carried out safely and to the required standards. Whether you’re adding a single-storey extension, a two-storey extension or altering the structure of your home, Building Control plays an important role throughout the project.

Having a Registered Building Control Approver involved from the beginning can help identify potential issues early, reducing delays once work is underway.

Working With Your Design Team

At Complete Building Control Ltd, our Registered Building Inspectors work closely with homeowners, architects and builders throughout every stage of the project.

We also offer pre-application advice (subject to appointment instruction), helping clients address Building Regulations requirements before construction begins.

Plan Checking

Before work starts, plans are reviewed to help ensure they comply with current Building Regulations.
This collaborative approach allows any issues to be resolved early, helping projects progress more efficiently.
Site Inspections

As work progresses, inspections are carried out at key stages of construction.

These inspections help ensure that work complies with the approved plans and current Building Regulations.
Choosing Complete Building Control

Whether you’re extending your family home or undertaking a larger domestic project, our experienced Registered Building Inspectors provide practical advice, plan checking and site inspections from start to finish.

If you’re planning a house extension and would like professional Building Control support, contact Complete Building Control Ltd to discuss your project.

Online reputational damage can spread quickly, particularly when false or misleading allegations are published on the internet. In a recent case, swift legal action led to the removal of a harmful article that posed a serious risk to a regulated UK business.

Within 24 hours of instruction, the content was assessed under English defamation law and a robust pre-action letter was issued, clearly setting out the inaccuracies and the harm being caused.

By acting decisively and strategically, the matter was resolved without court proceedings and the article was taken down. The case highlights how early intervention is often the most effective way to protect a business’s reputation and limit long-term damage.

Find out more here