Building Regulation Fees

Notice of changes to Building Regulation fees and charges

In accordance with the Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 2010 and LABC Member Guidance on the Publication of a Building Regulation Charges Scheme, North West Leicestershire District Council is giving due notice of proposed changes to its existing charge scheme.

From 1 May 2023 the Building Control hourly rate will increase to £65 per hour.

The charge scheme can be inspected on request by contacting our Building Control team at building@nwleicestershire.gov.uk

Building Regulation Fee Enquiry

To allow us to work out our fees for your project please complete the Building Regulation Fee Enquiry Form

What information do we need?

To enable us to provide you with an accurate charge please provide  wherever possible a plan of the works. If you do not have a plan then we require the following information:

1. A description of the proposed works
2. Whether you are submitting a Building Notice or depositing  'full plans' for approval (This is not a type of planning application)
3. Whether you have appointed a recognised builder, architect, architectural technician or recognised plan drawer, or whether this is a 'DIY' project
4. Whether you intend to appoint contractors who are registered on one of the many Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) competent person schemes for elements of the work - such as electrics, replacement windows, solid fuel appliances (such as log burners) etc
5. Anticipated programme of work

Because our charges must reflect the actual time involved in each project, our fees are not fixed for the life of the project.

Disabled Person Exemption

Please note that if the work is for the sole benefit of a disabled person, e.g. you are providing accommodation that they cannot currently use, for example an accessible bathroom, or wider door openings, etc, then the application may be exempt from the payment of fees.

If this is the case, then we require evidence of that person’s disability, and supporting statement stating the benefit that they will gain from the work being carried out. This can be provided by a GP or other relevant person in regular contact with the disabled person, such as Social Services, NHS, etc.

For more specific advice, please speak to one of the Building Control team on 01530 454692 or email building.control@nwleicestershire.gov.uk

Why we charge?

The Building Regulation function is not funded through Council Tax, Business Rates, or general taxation (with the exception of certain works for disabled people).

Basis of our charges

We're required by law to fully recover our costs of providing the Building Regulation service through charges on a case by case basis.

Our charges have been determined using what we think is a reasonable amount of time we need to put into the project.

In setting the fees we make no allowance for repeated plan checking, carrying out more than one type of inspection (e.g. foundations), unless it is planned, or for helping your builder understand what he or she needs to do. There is in effect an expectation that the people you employ are competent for the project they will undertake.

Where we incur additional work over and above an additional one hour, we may invoice you for our additional costs.

Paying Application Charges

Your application is not legally valid until the correct application charge has been paid. To make payment, we will call you to take payment over the phone. If you prefer we can still accept cheques, but there may be a delay in processing your application.

If you send a cheque please make it payable to North West Leicestershire District Council (or NWLDC), and ensure that it is referenced to your Building Regulation application.

Inspection charges - Full Plans Applications

Where an inspection fee is payable you will receive an invoice shortly after the first inspection. You can pay this invoice online.

VAT

All of our Building Notice and Full Plans charges  include VAT at 20%. Regularisation charges are not vatable.

In the case of inspection fees, the VAT rate is the rate applicable at the time the invoice is raised, not that applicable at the time the application was deposited.