Building control charges

The London Borough of Bromley has written some guidance notes on the updated Building Regulations Charging Scheme. This scheme will take place from 1 October 2022.

Explanatory notes

1. If you submit a Full Plans application for approval you will need to pay a Plan Charge to cover the examination of the plans deposited with the local authority and an Inspection Charge when works commence 
2. If you submit a Building Notice you will need to pay a Building Notice Charge which is payable when the notice is given to the local authority
3. If you apply for a Regularisation Certificate in respect of unauthorised work, you must pay a Regularisation Charge, which is non-refundable, to cover the cost of assessing your application and all inspections
4. Full plans submissions, Building Notices and applications for Regularisation Certificates submitted to the local authority are deemed as not being submitted until payment has been made. 
5. When the proposed work comprises or includes one or more extensions to a building being carried out at the same time, the floor areas should be added together when determining the charges payable. The floor area is measured internally.
6. If internal alterations are proposed within the existing building, which are not directly required to facilitate any extension work, they will require a separate charge based on Table B schedule of charges relating to “other works to single dwellings” in addition to any charges paid on Table B schedule of charges for extensions. Table B is based on the estimated cost of the work. Estimated cost means a reasonable estimate that would be charged by a professional builder but excludes VAT and professional fee.
7. Extension work must be based on Table B schedule of charges for domestic work if it comes within the floor area limitations. Where work falls outside the floor area limits or where the costs exceeds the maximum stated in the tables you should request an individually determined charge
8. Attached and detached garages and outbuildings, for charges purposes, are treated under Table B schedule of charges in a category of their own.
9. Where work falls under 3 or more categories of charges, you can request an individually determined charge
10. Where full plans, previously deposited, have been rejected no further plan charge is payable on resubmission for substantially the same work.
11. With the exception of Regularisation Charges, all local authority charges are subject to V.A.T. at the standard current rate.
12. A charge is not required for work solely to provide access and facilities for disabled persons in dwellings or buildings to which the public have access
13. Where an application is withdrawn and a refund is requested, we will retain an amount to cover the cost of the time we have already spend dealing with the application. We will advise you of the amount before the application is withdrawn. The amount we will retain will be at least £75.00 + vat.
14. These charges have been set by the council on the basis that the building work does not consist of, or include, innovative or high-risk construction techniques 
15. They have also been set on the basis that the design and building work is undertaken by a person or company that is competent to carry out the relevant work. If this is not the case then the work may incur supplementary charges either as a result of additional inspections necessary to ascertain compliance and/or additional resources necessary to check plans deposited.

If you have any difficulties or are unsure on how to calculate the charges please contact us