Crackdown on cowboys to
benefit home owners, local authorities and the building industry
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (066) issued by The Government News Network
on 18 March 2008
The building
industry, local authorities and home owners will all benefit from
a shake-up to the building control system proposed by Housing
Minister Caroline Flint today which cracks 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. A more systematic approach to the review of
building regulations will also give the industry more certainty
and allow better forward planning.
Housing Minister Caroline Flint said:
"Home owners have the right to expect their homes to be
built and renovated to minimum standards set out in building
regulations. 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 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, to help builders and homeowners to
meet the building regulations and the development of a shared
vision on the future of building control
* Improving the link between planning and building control
through a seamless planning and building control service and more
e-enabled internet services
Visitors to the Ideal Home Show will get the chance to respond to
the consultation directly, through an interactive touch-screen
kiosk at the Department for Communities and Local Government stand.
Responding to today's 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, of 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 3
years. This has been a real concern to our members - this shake-up
will save our members time and money and ultimately will make it
easier for them to meet the required building standards."
Notes to Editors
1. Full details of the "Future of Building Control"
consultation can be found at http://www.communities.gov.uk
2. The Building Control Alliance represents the views of the
Building Control profession, and members include Local Authority
Building Control and Private Building Control (Association of
Consultant Approved Inspectors). The other members are RICS,
Association of Building Engineers (ABE), Chartered Institute of
Building (CIOB). BCA aims to tackle industry wide building control
issues in a more co-ordinated manner.
3. The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is the largest
employers' body for the building industry with over 13,000
members and is the recognized voice of small and medium sized
construction firms. FMB is committed to promoting excellent
standards in craftsmanship and assisting builders to improve
levels of building performance and customer service.
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom