An Introduction to Building Consultancy

• Building Consultancy News
• Visual Guide for Householders (external link) - A simple guide to planning permission and building regulations around your home.

The Building Control regulation system exists to ensure buildings are properly designed and constructed. Buildings must ensure the health, safety and welfare of people using them and must also be convenient to use. They also include requirements to ensure that fuel and power is conserved and that facilities are provided for people with disabilities.

For most new buildings, extensions and alteration work, detailed plans are required to be deposited with the Council. Application forms and fee information can be downloaded from the website or sent though the post.  These plans are usually checked by one of our surveyors who is responsible for the area in which the work is to be carried out.  If there are any queries these will be conveyed to you or your agent. When these are cleared an approval is issued. Remember that your work may also need planning permission, for more information look at our Planning pages.

Complicated schemes and large projects take longer to deal with than do smaller projects, mainly due to the necessary consultation process.  To reduce this period to a minimum we have service level agreements with groups we consult.

During the construction process, inspections will be made at your request.  Usually these will be made on the same day the request is made if you telephone before 10am.  When contacting us for an inspection, it will help us to give you prompt attention if you tell us:

1.   The inspection you require (ie. excavations)
2.   Preferred time of visit (am or pm)
3.   Application Number
4.   Full site address
5.   Builder's name

It is important that you request all of the relevant inspections at the right time so that a completion certificate can be issued at the end of the project.

We also provide guidance and advice on the following:

• Changing address
• Choosing your Builder
• Dangerous Structures
• Demolition
• Energy Performance Certificates
• Exemptions
• Licensing Venues
• Notifiable Work
• Party Walls
• Replacement Windows
• Septic Tanks
• Street Naming and Numbering

If you would like to speak to a member of the Building Consultancy Team please contact us, details below.

Contact Details

Building Consultancy

Email - buildingconsultancy@chester.gov.uk

Opening hours - 8.45am - 4.45pm

Phone number - 01244 402224

Fax - 01244 321876

Address - Building Consultancy, Development Directorate, Chester City Council, The Forum, Chester, CH1 2HS