In England, building regulations approval for work that does not involve a higher-risk building can be sought from the local council’s building control department or from a private registered building control approver, and the applicant must also choose between a full plans application and a building notice.

Two kinds of building control body

GOV.UK says that for building work that does not include a higher-risk building, approval can be sought from a local council, applying through the Planning Portal, or from a private registered building control approver. It also lists registered approvers in Wales as an option, and notes that Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules. The Planning Portal describes a building control body as one that checks that building work meets the standards set in the building regulations, and says it is either the local authority, from which the applicant applies for approval from the council, or a registered building control approver, who notifies the local authority of the work by giving an “initial notice”.

How the routes differ in practice

The Planning Portal explains that if a registered building control approver is used, it takes responsibility for checking compliance during the work, usually by advising the client, but it has no formal enforcement powers. If a breach is not put right, the approver cancels its initial notice, which can return the work to the local authority, which then holds enforcement powers and takes over the function if no other approver accepts the work. A local authority has the general statutory duty to enforce the building regulations in its area.

GOV.UK adds that regularisation, retrospective approval for work already carried out without consent, can be obtained from a local authority building control body only. Because the choice affects who advises during the work and who holds enforcement powers if a problem arises, a householder should compare what each service includes before deciding.

Full plans or building notice

For work not involving a higher-risk building, GOV.UK says the applicant must choose the type of application. A full plans application is the most thorough option, with a decision expected within five weeks, or two months with the applicant’s consent, and a completion certificate usually within eight weeks of completion of the work if it complies. A building notice is only for smaller projects: work can start two days after the notice is submitted to the building control body, but there is no formal approval as there is with full plans.

When approval is not needed from the owner

GOV.UK states that building regulations approval is different from planning permission and that both may be needed. It also says an owner does not need to apply for approval where the work is exempt or not covered by the regulations, or where it is done by a tradesperson registered with a competent person scheme, which lets an installer such as a window or boiler fitter self-certify compliance and tell the local authority. The tradesperson gives a certificate within eight weeks of completion that can be used as evidence of compliance and will show in solicitors’ searches on a sale. GOV.UK says a homeowner can find registered tradespeople through the Competent Persons Register, and that competent person schemes have insurance-backed warranties and complaints procedures. Even without formal approval, safety and energy efficiency standards must be met. The rules on which conservatories are exempt are covered in a separate guide on this site.

Penalties, faulty work and higher-risk buildings

GOV.UK says the person doing the work could be prosecuted and fined if they do not comply with the regulations, that the relevant building control body may make the owner pay to fix faulty work, and that without approval the owner will not have the certificates of compliance needed on a sale. Higher-risk buildings, defined by GOV.UK as at least seven storeys or 18 metres high with at least two residential units, a hospital or a care home, need approval from the Building Safety Regulator instead, and are not relevant to a domestic conservatory.

FAQs

Must I use my council for building control?

No. GOV.UK says the applicant can choose the local council or a private registered building control approver for work that is not higher risk.

Which application type gives formal approval?

A full plans application, according to GOV.UK. A building notice is only for smaller projects and does not give formal approval.

Can a private approver regularise unauthorised work?

No. GOV.UK says regularisation is available from a local authority building control body only.

Bottom line

For a conservatory that needs Building Regulations approval in England, the choice is between the council and a private registered approver and between full plans and a building notice. Private approvers advise but cannot enforce, and only the council can regularise past work. A competent person scheme can remove the need for the owner to apply. This is general information, not advice on a specific project.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 20 September 2026:

• GOV.UK, “Building regulations approval”
• Planning Portal, “What is a building control body?”
• Planning Portal, “Failure to comply with the building regulations”

Related guides

Compare Conservatories is an independent guide. We may earn a fee from some links; this never affects what we write. This article is general information, not legal or planning advice on any specific property — always confirm requirements directly with your local planning authority.