CLG Advises on Transitional Arrangements for Building Regulations

On 28 September 2010, Anthony Burd, Head of Technical Policy for the Sustainable Buildings Division of the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) published a letter to advise about the publication of the Approved Documents and compliance guides supporting the changes to the Building Regulations including the changes to Parts L and F. His letter contains useful information about the changes and also refers to the transitional arrangements, which were originally published in a March this year. The transitional arrangements are as follows:  – Where building work had started before 1 October 2010, the work may continue as if the amendments to the building regulations had not been made.  – Where a contract for replacement windows and doors has been agreed, including doorsets that have a glass area less than 50%, the work may be carried out as if the amendments to the Building regulations had not been made provided that the work begins before 6 April 2011.  – Where a building notice had been given or full plans submitted, before 1 October 2010, the work may be carried out as if the amendments to the Building Regulations had not been made provided the work begins before 1 October 2011. Commencement of work would usually be marked by work such as;  – Excavation for strip or trench foundations or for pad footings;
 – Digging out and preparation of ground for raft foundations;
 – Vibrofloatation (stone columns) piling, boring for piles or pile driving;
 – Drainage work specific to the building(s) concerned. The following are not likely to constitute the commencement of work:  – Removal of vegetation
 – Demolition of any previous buildings on the site;
 – Removal of top soil;
 – Removal or treatment of contaminated soil;
 – Excavation of trial holes;
 – Dynamic compaction;
 – General site servicing works (e.g. roadways) If applications are made in respect of a number of buildings on a site, it is generally the commencement of work on the first buildings within the application which determines whether all the building work can take advantage of the transitional provisions, not each individual building. Anthony Burd’s letter can be downloaded from
https://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/1728453.pdf The circular relating to the transitional arrangements can be downloaded from
https://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/1507225.pdf