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Duties of a client
The Building Regulations place responsibility for managing a construction project on three main duty holders.
As the client, you have overall responsibility for the successful management of the project and must appoint a Principal Designer and Principal Contractor to assist in different phases of the project. To help you manage those duties we have produced a set of forms that you need to return at certain key stages in the process – it is important that you do not forget to do this. Domestic Clients can ask the Principal Designer or Principal Contractor to undertake these duties for them, but this does not remove your legal responsibility.
Application form
RBC Building Control Application Form
Regularisation Application Form
Full plans – The plans, specifications and other supporting documents are provided for ‘approval’, where a Registered Building Inspector reviews them for compliance, identifying any areas of non-compliance. As compliance is checked prior to works commencing the risk of issues on site is reduced.
Building notice – Is for smaller, less complex works such as small (<10m2) extensions, internal alternations, or window replacements. The works are assessed on site however information, such as structural calculations may still be required. Building Notices cannot be used for certain works such as works over sewers and commercial works.
Regularisation – Where works have started or been completed without the required approvals this application type should be used. As much information should be provided as possible, any additional information required will be quoted for.
Applications should be made using the Planning Portal or the physical application forms. These can either be printed and posted to the address on the form or completed digitally and emailed to building.control@reading.gov.uk.
Duty holders
Where building work is proposed to be or is being carried out any time after an application for building control approval with full plans is made or a building notice is given and a domestic client for a project appoints a principal contractor (or sole contractor) or a principal designer (or sole or lead designer), the appointed contractor/designer must give a notice to the local authority.
A principal contractor (or sole contractor) or a principal designer (or sole or lead designer) are known collectively as a person appointed. The notice must be given to the local authority within 14 calendar days beginning with the date of the appointment of the person appointed.
Notice of works starting on site (commercial or domestic)
This form is used to notify us when the builder is due to start on site.
We will not be able to begin inspections until this form fully completed and returned.
This must include the date when works will start on site. You are obliged to give 2 days’ notice.
Notice of work having reached commencement
The point of formal commencement is likely to be at DPC level for extensions and new builds – or, for other works, a point at which 15% of the controlled work has been completed.
Your project will not be considered as ‘commenced’ until this form is fully completed and returned. You must include the date when works reach ‘commencement’ (as per the new definition). You are obliged to notify us within 5 days after the commencement date at the very latest.
Failure to notify could lead to possible action being taken.
Notice of completion – signed by client, principal designer and principal contactor
When works are complete you must request a Completion Inspection. We will not be able to issue the Completion Certificate until we have carried out a Completion Inspection.
Please do not submit your Notice of Completion until the work is complete and you are satisfied that, to the best of your knowledge, the building works comply with Building Regulations.
You will also need to ensure the Notice of Completion is signed by the Principal Designer and Principal Contractor. (Handwritten signature)
Fees/quotations
Guidance on Fee Remission/Exception
The building regulation charge for the majority of domestic extensions and alterations are standard charges, examples of these can be found below. If you are undertaking multiple works then the price will be adjusted depending on whether all the works are being completed at the same time.
| Works | Building Notice | Full Plans – Plan Check | Full Plans – Inspection |
| Small Extension (Under 10m2) | £730 | £292 | £438 |
| Medium Extension (Up to 40m2) | £885 | £354 | £531 |
| Large Extension (Up to 60m2) | £990 | £396 | £594 |
| Loft Conversion (Up to 50m2) | £930 | £372 | £558 |
| Garage conversion (Single Garage) | £575 | £230 | £345 |
| Structural Alterations (Beams, Chimney Removal) | £285 | £114 | £171 |
The hourly rate for reimbursement of the cost of support provided by Reading Building Control to the Building Safety Regulator under Section 13 of the Building Safety Act 2022 for 2025/26 is £111.
To request a quotation, send the completed application forms for the works and we will confirm the fees for the works.
Payment
Once you have submitted the application and received a fee for the works, you will need to make payment for us to process it.
The easiest way to make a payment is online.
If you are unable to pay online, you can email us at building.control@reading.gov.uk to arrange a different payment method.
Last updated on 15/09/2025
Apply for building control