Crackdown on cowboys

Housing minister Caroline Flint has proposed a shake-up to the building control system in order to clamp down on illegal construction.

The Future of Building Control consultation recommends a more efficient risk-based inspection process for local authorities that focuses on the most dangerous failings. Good builders who comply with them will be relieved of the burden of unnecessary inspections, while cowboy builders will face tougher scrutiny.

Caroline Flint said: “I want to make life more difficult for the cowboy builders that are out there whilst letting the high quality majority of the industry get on with the job. This should reduce the cost and burden of the process on both the industry and local authorities.”

The consultation proposes a more efficient building control system delivering sustainable buildings, including:

• Freeing up more time and resources for local authorities to focus on areas of highest risk, by removing statutory notification stages;

• Introducing a periodic review of The Building Regulations every three years, which allows the building industry to forward plan, rather than the current continual changes;

• Protecting home owners from builders who intend to do major projects without proper planning, by restricting the use of building notices;

• Increasing powers for local authorities to tackle illegal or botched construction, including extending the existing time limits for enforcement to two years;

• The potential use of fixed penalty notices and stop notices;

• Raising awareness amongst the public and the industry and providing more help through the system, including a new guide on extensions and conversions;

• Improving the link between planning and building control through a seamless planning and building control service and more e-enabled internet services.

Responding to the consultation, David McCullogh, chair of the Building Control Alliance, said: “These proposals will make a real difference to the building control system, shaping it to meet the challenges that the profession faces today. We are determined to deliver a modernised and strengthened service and will continue to work closely with government to achieve this.”

Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the Federation of Master Builders, said: "We fully support the Government's intention to move towards a more planned approach to building regulation by clearly signposting changes and making them at the same time once every three years.

“This shake-up will save our members time and money and ultimately will make it easier for them to meet the required building standards.”