Wilson proposes tightening of Building Regulations

Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson, has launched proposals that would prevent developers building houses using out-dated building regulations.

The proposals form the final amendment to the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, which will be entirely replaced in 2011.

Speaking about the proposed amendment, the Minister said: “As the regulations stand currently, if a developer submits plans for a number of dwellings on one Building Control application, he must only start work on one unit to ‘activate’ the approval, thereby preventing Building Control from declaring the plans to be of no effect for the remaining un-commenced units. In effect, this often allows developers to build houses against outdated building regulations.

“What today’s move proposes to do is to ensure that work must have substantially commenced on each building contained in the application within three years of the date the plans are deposited. By requiring this work to have started - which means laying foundations and constructing the building to damp-proof course level - we aim to ensure that all new houses are built to current building standards.”

The consultation proposals are also covering minor amendments, clarifications or corrections to Parts A, E, F & L of the Building Regulations.

Copies of the consultation paper and initial impact assessments are available on the Building Regulations website. The consultation period will last for 12 weeks, ending on 4 June 2010.

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