Building Work on Commercial Properties
Our guide on how to get building regulations approval for work on commercial properties.
I’m ready to start work - what now?
Check if you require planning permission with Lambeth Planning. This is very important as you have to comply with building regulations, but you always need to be aware that planning permission may also be required.
Building regulations and planning permission are completely different. If you apply for planning permission, you still need to check with Lambeth Building Control that your work satisfies building regulations.
Making an application
All commercial properties must submit full plans.
Application for Full Plans
You can also complete and submit your application over the web at www.submit-a-plan.com (payment currently still has to be made by cheque, in person or sent through the post).
You must send in your application before you begin any work.
Ideally full plans should be sent at least five weeks before the work is due to start.
We will check the plans and issue a decision to you before you start the work.
You would normally need to send in two sets of plans - we'll use these to check and consult with other authorities in the borough, for example, fire and water authorities.
In some cases, we will need more copies of the plans, but we'll let you know if this is the case.
If your plans meet building regulations, we'll issue you with an approval notice within five weeks - you are advised to wait for this before you start work.
Re-submission
If your plans are rejected you may submit another set for us to review, and you have a right to appeal.
If you re-submit revised plans for the same work within three months (known as a re-submission of plans), you will not have to pay the application charge again.
After this time you will need to pay another charge.
Fee
There is a charge for full plans applications - please refer to our fee sheet for details or call us on 020 7926 9000.
The fee must be sent in with your application.
All fees must be paid by cash or cheque only. Cheques should be made payable to 'London Borough of Lambeth'. Please write the address of the property and the application reference number on the back of the cheque to help us process it quickly and efficiently.
What happens once the work starts?
Tell us in writing at least two days before you start any work - we will send you a preprinted 'commencement notice' that you can use to make it easier for you to let us know.
Further inspection will also be required - your surveyor will discuss this when he/she meets your builder.
What happens once the work is finished?
By law you need to arrange a final inspection with our surveyor.
Our surveyor will make sure that all the paperwork is complete, and that all the works comply with building regulations.
All the fees must have been paid too, otherwise a completion certificate will not be issued.
Completion certificate
The completion certificate will only be sent out to you if you request it - there is no charge for the first copy of a completion certificate for full plans.
If duplicate certificates are needed, we will charge you for them.
Who to contact
The Building Control Department has relocated.
Our address is Phoenix House, 10 Wandsworth Road, London SW8 2LL. Please note that telephone and email contact details remain the same.
Building Control
Phoenix House
10 Wandsworth Road
London
SW8 2LL
Phone: 020 7926 9000
Fax: 020 7926 0530
Email: buildingcontrol@lambeth.gov.uk
Opening hours