Planning vs building regs - the difference

We often find the general public are not aware that they need to obtain both planning permission and building regulations approval before they can start work on a construction project.

A planning application is required to control what the proposal looks like when the planning application is considered by the local authority. They are looking at how the building looks and how it affects the immediate surrounding area including the neighbouring properties. Planning applications are dealt with by your specific local authority.

Once you have planning approval, you also need building regulations approval. A building regulations application must be submitted for almost all building works. The building regulations application is not about what the building looks like in the slightest, it is concerned with complying with a stringent set of Government issued construction documents known as “approved documents”. A building regulations deposit of full plans application is required to be submitted and approved before construction work can commence.