When to use this guide
- Constructing a new higher-risk building or planning relevant work to an existing one.
- Changing agreed documents after building-control approval.
- Preparing completion information or transferring work from another control route.
What to check
Use these prompts with the responsible project team. Ticking a box does not certify compliance.
You can tick these prompts while reviewing the project.
Keep these records
- BSR application, agreed documents, decisions and conditions.
- Change-control log with assessments, notifications and approvals.
- Inspection, completion, required information-handover and levy records where applicable.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a routine material substitution cannot be a controlled or major change.
- Confusing approval for construction with registration and other duties before residential occupation.
When to get specialist help
Ask the competent principal dutyholders and BSR about uncertain scope, emergency work or changes; do not use this summary to bypass an approval hold point.
Scope and edition
Sources reviewed 17 October 2026. Current guidance and revised law include October 2026 levy-related changes; do not rely on the original 2023 PDF alone. Design/construction higher-risk definitions differ from occupation rules.
Use the official source to check the current text, amendments not yet incorporated, commencement and project-specific transition. A published future edition is not automatically the rule applying to your work.
Official sources
- Higher-risk building procedures — latest available legislationEngland procedures; check current amendments and transitional provisions.https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/909/contents
- Building control approval for higher-risk buildingsBSR practical guidance including current categories, changes and completion.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/building-control-approval-for-higher-risk-buildings
- Manage a higher-risk building applicationOfficial application service, documents, charges and levy guidance.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/manage-a-building-control-application-for-a-higher-risk-building
Source links lead to external official websites. We provide original explanatory notes and do not reproduce paid standards.
About this library
Independent, plain-English reference notes by Saeed Azarshab. The library covers the 42 subjects listed here; it is not every law affecting construction, an official government publication or a project-specific compliance decision. Building Regulations, Approved Documents, workplace safety duties and planning permissions have different roles.
Editorial source review: . Check the current official text, commencement dates, outstanding amendments and transitional arrangements before relying on a requirement. Publication date is not necessarily the date a rule applies. A relevant competent professional or authority must resolve project-specific questions.
Sources and lawful reuse
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. These are original practical summaries, with links to the official material. No government endorsement is implied. We do not host copies of proprietary BS, ISO or Eurocode standards, third-party diagrams or publisher layouts. Check each source’s rights notice before reuse.
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