Recommendations aim to make it easier for the construction industry to plan for changes to the Building Regulations

A more systematic approach to the review of the Building Regulations is being proposed following the launch of the Future of Building Control consultation by Department for Communities and Local Government.

The recommendations are aimed to provide more certainty and make it easier for the industry to forward plan for any changes.

The review periods are likely to be in 2010, 2013 and 2016 however they will include a "two cycle" rule which will mean that no one specific part of the regulations can be changed more than once every six years unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The review process will also be revised to make the changes more open and transparent.

Other key recommendations include:

• Freeing up more time and resources for local authorities by removing statutory notification stages.

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

• The introduction of fixed penalty notices and stop notices.

• Protecting homeowners from builders who intend to do major projects without proper planning by restricting the use of building notices.

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

"This has been a real concern to our menebers and the shake up will save our members time and money and ultimately will make it easier for them to meet the required building standards.”