Building control news and advice

Service update from Building Control - Building Control is open and operating business as usual As with a number of organisations we are constantly monitoring the health of our staff and the services that can be provided due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Whilst every effort is being made to plan for running as normal a service as possible we will have to, if as predicted, reduce the service provided and prioritise our workloads as staffing levels reduce. In advance can we thank you for your patience when emailing and/or phoning the office. We will endeavour to deal with your enquiry as efficiently as possible with the resources available.

Site inspections

Harrow Building Control is operating a full site inspection service. Please note when requesting inspections that surveyors will follow social distancing and other Covid 19 guidelines.

Contractors should be aware and be following guidelines in respect of working on site.

When arranging a site inspection please consider the following:

• Has anyone at the site (owner or contractors) been ill and displaying coronavirus symptoms;
• Could the inspection be carried out in the absence of the occupants/contractors if necessary;
• Will there be vulnerable people on the premises.

If the answer is yes to the first question then the inspection should seek to be delayed. If the answer is yes to the last question then a discussion should be had on how best to proceed safely.

Other enquiries will be dealt with the available resources but there may a delay in responding.

In advance can we thank you for your patience when emailing and/or phoning the office (020 8736 6058).

Government Advice

If you are involved with operations on site, particularly essential maintenance or building work, which will need to continue, please read the best practice guidance document. This document was produced by Construction Leadership Council for safe site working for information and we recommend that you adopt the proposed measures as quickly as possible.

If you are looking to re-start work please read this advice from the Federation of Master Builders.

Harrow Building Control schedule of fees

Some fees are changing from the 4th April 2022 and notification can be found here. The revised charges for our standard fees can be found below:

• New Dwellings (New Build and Conversions)
• Domestic Extensions and Alterations to a Single Dwelling
• Domestic Extensions and Alterations to a Single Dwelling - Simplified Version for Householders
• Non-Domestic New Build, Extensions and Alterations

For an individually assessed fee, please contact our Building Control team using the contact details on this webpage.

Making a payment

• There is now a new facility to pay online. You will need to know the type of application and reference number. If you are unsure of this please call the office via the details at the end of the page.
• To pay the fee by debit or credit card, please call us on 020 8736 6058 or email bcontrol@harrow.gov.uk.
• We can also accept cheques, however, due to staffing availability there may be significant delays processing cheques and subsequently the application.

Cheques should be:

• made payable to Harrow Council
• include details of the site address and the application reference
• sent to the Building Control office Civic Centre, PO Box 37, Station Road, Harrow, HA1 2XY
• marked for the attention of Planning and Building Control

Revised Approved Documents

Four New and Revised Approved Documents are being introduced in 2022, F, L, O and S.

• Approved Document A
• Approved Document B Vol 1 (2019) New
• Approved Document B Vol 2 (2019) New
• Approved Document B Vol 1
• Approved Document B Vol 2
• Approved Document C
• Approved Document D
• Approved Document E
• Approved Document F Vol 1 (2021) New
• Approved Document F Vol 2 (2021) New
• Approved Document F
• Approved Document G
• Approved Document H
• Approved Document J
• Approved Document K
• Approved Document L Vol 1 (2021) New
• Approved Document L Vol 2 (2021) New
• Approved Document L1A
• Approved Document L1B
• Approved Document L2A
• Approved Document L2B
• Approved Document M Vol 1
• Approved Document M Vol 2
• Approved Document O New
• Approved Document P
• Approved Document Q
• Approved Document R
• Approved Document S
• Approved Document 7 amended 2019

Please visit GOV.UK to see other Approved Documents.

Building control guides

• Householder guidance
• Building control customer charter
• Guidance Note - Approved Document G (2010 edition)
• Guidance Note - Chimney Breast Removal
• Guidance Note - Fire Safety in Dwelling houses
• Guidance Note - Fire Safety in Buildings other than Dwelling houses
• Guidance Note - Regularisation Applications
• Guidance Note - Roofing
• Guidance Note - Domestic electrical work
• Find a registered electrician
• U-Value Guide - Guidance on U-values for domestic construction
• Building work, replacements and repairs to your home
• The Party Wall Act Explanatory Booklet
• Is your home polluting Harrow's Rivers?
• Fire Safety - A clear and impartial guide (New)
• Cold Weather Working advice (New)
• Green Homes Grant - Householder and Contractor information

Useful building control web sites

• The Planning Portal
• Local Authority Building Control
• The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• The Chartered Institute of Building
• Communities and Local Government
• The Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
• NICEIC Group Limited
• ELECSA Limited
• NAPIT Registration Limited
• The Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors
• Competent Roofer
• Thames Water (Developer Services)
• Change of use