Request a Building Control site visit
A formal notification of a Building Notice or a Full Plans application needs to be deposited with the Council's Building Control Section before a visit can be made.
Request an inspection
Inspections can be booked two working days in advance, for Monday to Friday only. No visits are available at weekends. Please use our site visit application form to request an inspection. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Building Control Team.
It is not possible to book specific times for a Building Surveyor to attend site.
You must give notice two days before commencement of works.
Inspection Framework - Owner/Occupier/Builder
The following inspection stages are those for which the Regulations require that the builder or owner give formal “notice” before covering the work in question. Inspections will need to be made as appropriate to the job in question. In most instances 1 days notice is required, occupation and completion inspections require 5 days notice.
As a general rule however, provided a request is made for any inspection before 10.00am on work days, an inspection will normally be made the same day. A request at any other time will normally involve an inspection the following working day.
“Notice” referred to above can be by telephone directly to the Building Control Surveyor supervising your project, or Technical Support Administration on 020 8891 7357, 020 8891 7338 or 020 8487 5098, or fax on 020 8891 7347, or email to: buildingcontrol@richmond.gov.uk
Caption:Statutory inspections Read across for type of works, description, notice and notes (column headings)
| Type of Works | Description | Notice | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commencement of works |
That you intend to commence works | 2 days | This might include site of existing foundation examination |
| Foundation excavations | Before anything is placed in the excavations | 1 day | More than one visit may be necessary |
| Covering of foundations |
Before the foundation concrete is covered | 1 day | May be done with either of the next two inspections |
| Hardcore Oversite |
Before any hardcore or concrete laid over the site is covered | 1 day | May include mesh reinforcement, thermal insulation provision and damp proof membrane |
| Damp Proof Courses |
Before any damp proof course or membrane is covered, including tanking | 1 day | May be combined with above inspection, but may include dpc's in other locations |
| Drains | Before covering up any drain or sewer | 1 day | Includes all access, cleaning and rodding points |
| Backfilling drain excavations |
Before backfilling any drain or sewer which has been haunched or covered | 5 days | At this stage it may be prudent to include a test on the underground drains |
| Occupation | Before a building or any part of it is occupied | 5 days | Occupying a building before substantial completion may give rise to health and safety risks. A plumbing test may be included |
| Completion | After completion of the works | 5 days | No Completion Certificate will be issued without a final inspection and notice of completion |
| Important: Part P Electrical Safety |
Installation | 1 day | All electrical work required to meet the Requirements of Part P (Electrical Safety) must be designed, installed, inspected and tested by a person competent to do so. |
| Completion | 5 days | Prior to completion the Council should be satisfied that Part P has been complied with. This may require an appropriate BS7671 electrical installation certificate to be issued for the work by a person competent to do so. |
In addition to the "statutory inspections" referred to above, as appropriate to the project and with specific reference to this particular project the following items should be inspected also:
Additional Inspections
- IL03 - Steel/Timber beams
- IL01 - Thermal insulation
You are therefore advised to ensure that notice is given so that these items are particularly inspected. It must be understood that this list is not comprehensive, but highlights items of particular and specific interest to a project.
Contact Building Control
Technical advice, site visit requests, etc
For Building Regulations advice, technical guidance and requests for site visits/inspections in the first instance contact the Building Surveyor for your area. You can find the relevant officer, their area and all their contact numbers on our Building Control Officers page.
General enquiries
For any questions or comments about the Building Control Team and the services we provide, use the following contact details:
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Environment Building Control
Civic Centre
44 York Street
Twickenham
Middlesex
TW1 3BZ
- Email: buildingcontrol@richmond.gov.uk
- Telephone: 020 8891 7117
- Minicom (for hearing impaired callers ONLY): 020 8891 7120
- Fax: 020 8891 7713
Complaining about a service
If you wish to make a complaint about our service, use our corporate complaints procedure.