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Keep up to date with current news in building control

Building Together: Cornwall 2024

13 March Royal Cornwall Show Ground

We had a good turn out for our Annual CPD event which is very popular with our customers; this was held at our new venue The Pavilion Building Royal Cornwall Showground Wadebridge.

Many thanks to all of our Presenter's and Exhibitors for making the day a great success.

Cornwall Council Building  Control Staff

Crown Paints

Chris Stanbury - Building Control update

Proctor Air trade Stand

Permavent trade Stand

Fire Risk Presentation

LABC Building Excellence Awards 2024

Entries are now open

Did a local authority provide the building control for your project? If so, read on:

  • First, you will need to register on our awards platform. If you registered last year you can use the same username and password.
  • Once you have completed the registration form you will receive an email from award force asking you to confirm your account (if you haven’t registered on the website before). Once you have confirmed your account you can then start completing the entry form(s).  
  • Please note that to be eligible for site-based projects, these must have been completed between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023. For more info please look at the judging criteria.
  • You can work on more than one entry at a time.
  • Need to get back to an entry you've already started? Log into the awards platform and click on ‘My entries’

Start your entry now

Changes to the Building Regulations

Guidance on the introduction of new Building Regulations with effect
from 1st October 2023

The latest legislative changes relating to The Building Safety Act 2022 came into force on the 1st October. The Government published the secondary legislation at the end of August. See below for a summary of changes to commencement and completion requirements that may impact your projects.

There are three new duty holders defined in the amended regulations:

  • Client including Domestic Clients -previously known as the Applicant
  • Principal Designer - previously known as the Agent
  • Principal Contractor – previously known as the Builder

Notice of Commencement

Regulation 13(5) of The Building Regulations 2010 and Section 32 of The Building Act 1984.

From the 1st October 2023 for applications to be considered as started at least one of the following:

  • Progressed to damp proof course level (if foundations are applicable); or
  • 15% completion of the overall project

Under Regulation 16 (3C)

It is now a legal requirement for the person carrying out work give notice to the Building Control Body within five days of work has commencing.

Please note that this does not change the need for a valid Building Control application before any works commence on site. The above stages are only relevant to Regulation 13(5) of The Building Regulations 2010 and Section 32 of The Building Act 1984.

Notice of Completion

For all applications submitted after 1st October 2023 a Compliance Notice will be required at completion. This relates to all projects that are subject to a Building Regulations Application. The notice must be provided within 5 days of the completion of works. We will not be able to issue a completion certificate until all relevant parties have signed this.

The Notice of Completion will require the following information about the client, principal contractor, and principal designer:

  • The name,
  • address,
  • phone number and
  • (if available) email address

A statement will be required from the applicant to say that the works have been completed. It will need to state that the work complies with all the applicable regulations to the best of their knowledge.

A statement will also be required from both the principal contractor and principal designer (if applicable). This will need to confirm they have fulfilled their duties under Part 2A (duty holders and competence). 

For buildings subject to the Fire Safety Order, the client must submit the same notice, but within 5 days of occupation. It must also state the following:

  • The date when the building (or any part of it) is occupied; and
  • A signed statement confirming that to the best of their knowledge, Regulation 38 and Part B of Schedule 1 are currently complied with for the parts of the building are to be occupied.

Please note it is the client responsibility to appoint a Principal Contractor and Principal Designer for the project.

SW Building Excellence Awards 2023

South West Winners & Highly Commended 2023

This year's winners within Cornwall:

Winner: Best Small New Housing Development

Edith Walk - Winner

Edith Walk - Cornwall

  • Project Team: The Bazeley Partnership Ltd, Claydon Builders Ltd, John Grimes Partnership, Energy Performance Services
  • Local Authority: Cornwall Council

Winner: Best Residential Site Manager

  • Lewis Paget, JS Construction Solutions Ltd
  • Local Authority: Cornwall Council

Winner: Public Service Superstar

  • Martin Pipet - Cornwall Council

Martin Pipet - Cornwall Council - Building Control

Winner: Best Partnership with a Local Authority Building Control Team

New Space Architecture with Devon Building Control Partnership

  • New Space Architecture with Devon Building Control Partnership
  • ARCO2 Architecture Ltd with Cornwall Council

Again, congratulations all, and please feel free to spread your success far and wide by sharing the winners' page and if you're adding them on social media don't forget to use #LABCawards and @labcuk

Are you a regional winner?

Don't forget to book your place at the Grand Finals taking place on 19 January 2024

Building Safety Act

The next step in ground-breaking reforms to give residents and homeowners more rights, powers and protections. Making homes across the country safer.

Find out more about the Building Safety Act.

Privacy Policy

We have updated our Privacy Policy which details how we manage your data.

Latest newsletters

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  • the latest changes to the building regulations
  • current technical issues
  • lots of other useful information and advice
  • CPD and training events
  • other services offered by LABC

To receive the newsletters and information on CPD events, email buildingcontrol@cornwall.gov.uk

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