Building control fees and charges
Guidance note 2020
Building Act 1984 - Building Regulations 2010 as amended
Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 2010 London Building Acts (Amendment) Act 1939
Before you build, extend, or convert a property, you or your agent (i.e., architect, builder, surveyor or developer) must tell the council.
You can submit either Full Plans or a Building Notice.
If you submit Full Plans, we will advise of any changes you need to meet Building Regulations. Building Control Officers will inspect the work at various stages during the build.
If you submit a Building Notice with a notice of commencement, work can start two days later. Building Control Officers will visit the site at intervals to ensure work conforms to Building Regulations.
Contents
Payable charges
If charges aren’t paid when you submit, work should not start
The total charge for full plans or a building notice is the same.
In certain cases, we may agree to payments in instalments. Please contact Building Control to check.
Full plans charges
- There is a 'plan charge' to cover the passing or rejection of the plans sent to the council.
- There is also an "inspection charge" to cover the inspection of work from the plans.
Building notice charges
- This is payable when you give the notice to the council.
- It’s a one-time payment for all visits the Building Control Surveyor needs to make.
Both Full Plans and Building Notice are subject to VAT.
Regularisation certificate for unauthorised building work
You will need to pay a charge to cover the cost of assessing your application. This includes all the inspections it may need. This is charged at the Building Notice rate plus 25%.
Regularisation is not subject to VAT.
Other charges
If other charges are needed, they will be raised and invoiced after the first inspection.
Where plans have been either approved or rejected there is no further charge on resubmission for the same work.
Discounts may be available on repeat applications, please contact Building Control for details.
Some submissions may not need a charge
These are:
- Placing insulating material into an existing cavity wall if the installation is certified to the right standard. The work must be done by an 'Approved Installer'.
- Installing an unvented hot water system if the installation is certified to the right standard. The work must be done by an 'Approved Installer'.
- Works that provide access and facilities for disabled persons in dwellings and buildings that the public have access to.
The number of charges may also depend on the type of work or the number of dwellings in a building and the total floor area.
The tables on this page may be used with the current Regulations and the Scheme of Charges to work out the charges.
If you need help working out charges, please contact Building Control on 020 7364 5009. (Press option 2 for Building Control).
Payment methods
We accept BACs and credit/debit card.
To pay by BACs or credit/debit card please call us on 020 7364 5009 (press option 2 for Building Control). Please note that the phone lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm.
Alternatively please email Building Control Building.Control@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
We do not accept cash payments or cheques.
Definitions of terms
- 'Disabled person' means a person who is within any of the descriptions of persons to whom Section 29 (as extended) of the National Assistance Act 1948(a) applies.
- 'Dwelling' includes a dwelling-house and a flat.
- 'Regularisation charge' is the charge payable when application is made to the local authority for a regularisation certificate in respect of unauthorised building work, commenced on or after 11th November 1985.
Standard charges for creation of new dwellings
These charges have been set by the council on the basis that the building work does not include:
- innovative construction techniques
- high risk construction techniques
- building work that takes more than 12 months to start and finish.
Work that is carried out for a disabled person’s benefit will not be charged.
Charges are set on the basis that the design and building work is done by a person or company that is competent to do it.
If not, there may be more charges for extra inspections to ensure compliance and/or the extra work needed to check the plans.
There are two ways to work out the charge for building work:
- individually determined charges
- standard charges
The charges for the creation of up to 19 new dwellings are standard charges and are listed in table A.
If your building work is not listed as a standard charge in Table A or Table B, C or D that follow it will be individually determined
For this, you can email buildingcontrol@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Please use ‘Request for building regulation charge’ as the subject and describe the work you need to do.
We will contact you back within 24 hours.
You can also call our helpline on 020 7364 5009.
Table A - Creation of new dwellings
Standard charges for the creation of new dwellings
| Number of dwellings | Plan charge | Inspection charge | Building notice charge |
|---|
|
1
|
£326
|
£437
|
£763
|
|
2
|
£419
|
£557
|
£976
|
|
3
|
£492
|
£659
|
£1,151
|
|
4
|
£595
|
£767
|
£1,262
|
|
5
|
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
|
6
|
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
|
7
|
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
|
8
|
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
|
9
|
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
|
10
|
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
|
11
|
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
|
12
|
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
|
13
|
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
|
14
|
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
|
15
|
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
|
16
|
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
| 17 |
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
|
18
|
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
|
19
|
£692
|
£875
|
£1,567
|
All charges are based on the use of Part P registered electrician[s] In other cases a supplementary charge will apply.
The standard charges for new build houses and flats have been assessed on the basis that the floor layouts are similar and the building is no more than three storeys, including the ground storey, with no basement storey or underground car-park.
In addition the floor area of a dwelling does not exceed 300m2.
Domestic extensions and alterations
These charges have been set by the council on the basis that the building work does not include:
- innovative construction techniques
- high risk construction techniques
- building work that takes more than 12 months to start and finish
Work that is carried out for a disabled person’s benefit will not be charged.
Charges are set on the basis that the design and building work is done by a person or company that is competent to do it.
If not, there may be more charges due to extra inspections to ensure compliance and/or the extra work needed to check the plans.
There are two ways to work out the charge for building work:
- individually determined charges
- standard charges
The charges for most of the domestic extensions and alterations are standard charges and are listed in tables B and C below.
If you are carrying out multiple extensions and/or types of alterations at the same time we will be able to reduce the standard charges. Please ask for an individual assessment of the charge for this type of work.
Where indicated in Table C some work carried out at the same time as domestic extensions in Table B is subject to a reduction e.g., underpinning at same time as new single storey extension.
However, where ancillary to the extension e.g., structural opening into extension it is included in the Table B charge.
The use of Part P registered electricians
Electrical work must be done by a Part P competent person. That is someone who has been to a self-certification scheme approved by the MHCLG. Or they must be a qualified electrician who can sign the relevant BS 7671 electrical certificate.
If not, there will be extra charges as an independent test report will be needed.
Please email: buildingcontrol@towerhamlets.gov.uk with the subject as ‘Request for building regulation charge’ and describe the intended work. If possible, also give a cost estimate.
We will contact you back within 24 hours.
You can also call our helpline on 020 7364 5009.
Table B - Extensions to a single domestic building
Single storey extensions
| Category | Description | Plan charge | Inspection charge | Building notice charge |
|---|
|
1
|
Single storey extension floor area not exceeding 10m²
|
£312
|
£406.80
|
£718.80
|
|
2
|
Single storey extension floor exceeding 10m² but not exceeding 40m²
|
£312
|
£561.60
|
£874.80
|
|
3
|
Single storey extension floor exceeding 40m² but not exceeding 100m²
|
£312
|
£630
|
£943.20
|
Two storey extensions
| Category | Description | Plan charge | Inspection charge | Building notice charge |
|---|
| 4 |
Single storey extension floor area not exceeding 10m²
|
£260
|
£526
|
£943.20
|
| 5 |
Single storey extension floor exceeding 10m² but not exceeding 40m²
|
£260 |
£599
|
£874.80
|
Loft conversion
| Category | Description | Plan charge | Inspection charge | Building notice charge |
|---|
| 6 |
Single storey extension floor area not exceeding 10m²
|
£312
|
£406.80
|
£718.80
|
| 7 |
Single storey extension floor exceeding 10m² but not exceeding 40m²
|
£312
|
£561.60
|
£1,030.80
|
Garages and carports
| Category | Description | Plan charge | Inspection charge | Building notice charge |
|---|
| 8 |
Single storey extension floor area not exceeding 10m²
|
£219.60
|
£319.20
|
£537.60
|
| 9 |
Single storey extension floor exceeding 10m² but not exceeding 40m²
|
£219.60
|
£406.80
|
£626.40
|
Other
| Category | Description | Plan charge | Inspection charge | Building notice charge |
|---|
| 10 |
Single storey extension floor area not exceeding 10m²
|
£270
|
£406.80
|
£744
|
| 11 |
Single storey extension floor exceeding 10m² but not exceeding 40m²
|
£312
|
£632.40
|
£944.40
|
All charges are based on the use of a Part P registered electrician. In other cases a supplementary Part P charge of £290.00 + VAT will be made.
Note: Charges for work not shown are to be individually determined.
Table C - Alterations to a single domestic building
Category 1 - Underpinning
| Basis of charge | Plan charge | Inspection charge | Building notice charge | Reduction for work carried out at the same time as work referred to in Table B |
|---|
|
Single lift - for every 5m length or part thereof have removed this as it means approximately.
|
£219.60
|
£249.60
|
£469.20
|
50%
|
|
For each additional 5m or part thereof add
|
|
£106.80
|
|
|
Category 2 - Internal alterations, installation of fittings (not electrical) and/or structural alterations (If ancillary to the building of the extension [Table B] no additional charge). Fixed price based on estimated cost bands.
| Basis of charge | Plan charge | Inspection charge | Building notice charge | Reduction for work carried out at the same time as work referred to in Table B |
|---|
|
Estimated cost less than £2,000
|
£219.60
|
£219.60
|
£219.60
|
50%
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £2,000 up to £5,000
|
£219.60
|
£350.40
|
£568.80
|
50%
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £5,000 up to £20,000
|
£219.60
|
£562.80
|
£932.40
|
50%
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £20,000 up to £50,000
|
£219.60
|
£843.60
|
£1,063.20
|
50%
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £50,000 up to £100,000
|
£312
|
£950.40
|
£1,263,60
|
50%
|
Category 3 - Window replacement (not competent persons scheme)
| Basis of charge | Plan charge | Inspection charge | Building notice charge | Reduction for work carried out at the same time as work referred to in Table B |
|---|
|
Fixed price grouped by numbers of windows, Per installation up to 20 windows
|
£106.80 |
£249.60
|
£356.40
|
50%
|
|
Per installation over 20 Windows
|
£106.80
|
£500.40
|
£606
|
50% |
Category 4 - Electrical wiring
| Basis of charge | Plan charge | Inspection charge | Building notice charge |
|---|
|
Electrical work (not competent persons scheme) where this is the only work being carried out.
|
£360
|
£360
|
£360
|
Category 5 - Conversion to create new dwellings
| Basis of charge | Plan charge | Inspection charge | Building notice charge |
|---|
|
Fixed price based on estimated cost bands, Estimated cost less than £2,000
|
£219.60
|
£219.60
|
£219.60
|
|
Estimated exceeding £2,000 up to £5,000
|
£219.60
|
£342
|
£561.60
|
|
Estimated exceeding £5,000 up to £20,000
|
£219.60
|
£540
|
£750
|
|
Estimated exceeding £20,000 up to £50,000
|
£219.60
|
£762
|
£981.60
|
|
Estimated exceeding £50,000 up to £100,000
|
£312
|
£900
|
£1,212
|
|
Estimated exceeding £100,000 up to £150,000
|
£312
|
£1,506
|
£1,818
|
|
Estimated exceeding £150,000 up to £250,000
|
£426
|
£2,312.40
|
£2,737.20
|
All charges are based on the use of a Part P registered electrician.
In other cases a supplementary Part P charge of £300+ VAT will be made.
Charges for work not shown are to be individually determined.
Alterations to a single non-domestic building
These charges have been set by the council on the basis that the building work does not include:
- innovative construction techniques
- high risk construction techniques
- building work that takes more than 12 months to start and finish
Work that is carried out for a disabled person’s benefit will not be charged.
Charges are set on the basis that the design and building work is done by a person or company that is competent to do it.
If not, there may be more charges due to extra inspections to ensure compliance and/or the extra work needed to check the plans.
There are two ways to work out the charge for building work:
- individually determined charges
- standard charges
The charges for alterations to a single non-domestic building are standard charges were listed in table D below.
If your building work is not listed as a standard charge in Table A or Table B, C or D that follow it will be individually determined.
For this, please email: buildingcontrol@towerhamlets.gov.uk with the subject as ‘Request for building regulation charge’ and describe the intended work and, if possible, give a cost estimate.
We will contact you back within 24 hours.
Category 1 - Underpinning
| Basis of charge | Plan charge | Inspection charge |
|---|
|
Single lift - for every 5m length or part thereof
|
£219.60
|
£249.60
|
|
For each additional 5m or part thereof add
|
|
£106.80
|
Category 2 - Fit out and alteration, Office and Retail
| Basis of charge | Plan charge | Inspection charge |
|---|
|
Estimated cost less than £2,000
|
£219.60
|
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £2,000 and up to £5,000
|
£219.60
|
£249.60
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £5,000 and up to £20,000
|
£219.60
|
£270
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £20,000 and up to £50,000
|
£219.60
|
£408
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £50,000 and up to £100,000
|
£313.80
|
£504
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £100,000 and up to £150,000
|
£427.20
|
£912
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £150,000 and up to £200,000
|
£632.40
|
£1,125.60
|
Category 2 - Fit out and alteration, Other than office or Retail
| Basis of charge | Plan charge | Inspection charge |
|---|
|
Estimated cost less than £2,000
|
£219.60
|
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £2,000 and up to £5,000
|
£219.60
|
£426
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £5,000 and up to £20,000
|
£219.60
|
£501.60
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £20,000 and up to £50,000
|
£219.60
|
£778.80
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £50,000 and up to £100,000
|
£313.80
|
£847.20
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £100,000 and up to £150,000
|
£427.20
|
£1,436.40
|
|
Estimated cost exceeding £150,000 and up to £200,000
|
£632.40
|
£1,581.60
|
Charges for work not shown are to be individually determined.
A £300 additional charge is payable for the change of use of a building and any associated building work will be subject to the charges detailed above.
Demolition
Section 10(3) of the London Local Authorities Act 2004 provides for the recovery of reasonably incurred expenses from a person on whom a notice is served under Section 81 of the Act of 1984.
The standard flat rate charge covers officer time and administrative costs associated with survey, consultation, and issue of the notice.
Total charge: £313.00 (VAT does not apply).
Section 30 (Temporary Structure) charges
London Building Acts (Amendment ) Act 1939 Section 30. Erecting a special Building or Structure intended to be kept permanently or temporarily.
Grandstand
| Number of seats | Charge |
|---|
|
10-250
|
£314
|
|
251-600
|
£450
|
|
601-1000
|
£626
|
|
Over 1000
|
Please contact us for a fee quote
|
Stage
| Area | Charge |
|---|
|
Less than 60m²
|
£314
|
|
Over 60m²
|
Please contact us for a fee quote
|
Framed Tower for loud speakers, lighting, video screens etc.
| Number of towers | Charge |
|---|
|
First tower
|
£189
|
|
Additional towers (each)
|
£94.50
|
For other structures of a complex nature please contact us for a fee quote.
Renewals of previous consents (regardless of the regularity of the re-inspection)
Building or Structure
| Size | Charge |
|---|
|
Less than 20m²
|
£90
|
|
Greater than 20m² and less than 40m²
|
£95
|
|
Greater than 40m² and less than 250m²
|
£100
|
|
Greater than 250m²
|
£131
|
Chimney Shaft, Smoke Duct, Tower or similar structure (whether vertical, horizontal or inclined)
| Length** | Charge |
|---|
|
Up to 6m
|
£90
|
|
Every additional 6 meters (or part thereof)
|
£12
|
**The length of the shaft or structure shall be measured independently of the height of the sub- structure
Applications for the erection (or retention) of an advertisement hoarding – or other sign supporting structure
| Size | Charge |
|---|
|
Per independent panel
|
£90
|