This involves the submission of detailed plans, other relevant information, and the applicable fee. The application is then checked to ensure compliance with the Building Regulations.

This form of submission MUST ALWAYS be used for commercial projects and should include four copies of all drawings.

Householder applications can be deposited using either the Full Plans Submission or the Building Notice Submission . For a householder Full Plans Submission two copies of all drawings should be submitted.

Where the proposals are found to be unsatisfactory a Building Control Surveyor will endeavour to contact you in order that the plans can be amended. In certain circumstances there may be no alternative but to reject the plans (i.e. where the plans indicate a contravention of the regulations, or contain insufficient information for assessment purposes).

There is a statutory time limit of 5 weeks (extendable to 2 months with agreement) in which they must determine your submission, although their aim will always be to process your application as quickly as possible.

Advantages of Full Plans Applications
a) You know that as long as the work is carried out in line with the approved plans, it will meet the regulations.
b) You can give an approval notice to financial institutions, solicitors, surveyors, and so on, when you are applying for loans or moving home.
c) As long as the work is carried out in line with the approved plans, and all the relevant inspections confirm that the work is of a satisfactory standard, you will get a Completion Certificate.

Disadvantages of Full Plans Applications
a) It is expensive to prepare detailed plans.
b) You have to programme the work to allow enough time to prepare plans and for us to process them.

Download a Full Plans Submission Application Form

Payable Fees
Fees are payable for work undertaken by the Building Control Surveyors in relation to Building Regulation applications. Fees may be payable up front or in two stages.

For Full Plans Applications most fees are payable in two stages as follows:

The Plan Fee: This is payable on submission of the application to the Building Control Office.

The Inspection Fee: This is payable when the work starts on site. The person specified on the application form will be invoiced for this fee following commencement. The fee covers all inspections carried out during the course of the works.

If the work is solely for the benefit of a disabled person then you may be exempt from the payment of fees. To be eligible for exemption you will need to provide a letter from Northumberland County Council Social Services Department stating that the person who lives at the property is registered or registerable as disabled.