Building regulations for extensions in Bath
Need building regulations for extensions in Bath? We survey the house, prepare what the council needs and deal with the officers until a decision is made.
- Guide price in BathFrom £900 inc VAT
- Approval routeFull plans or building notice
- Timescale2–5 weeks for drawings
- Postcode districtsBA1, BA2
Local to Bath
Across BA1, BA2, we can visit, measure and advise. The same team covers Keynsham (6 miles), Frome (10 miles), Nailsea (18 miles), Portishead (19 miles), all within easy reach.
South West homes range from terraced streets in the cities to stone cottages and bungalows in the countryside, and conservation areas are common in historic centres.
Planning rules that apply in Bath
Building regulations approval is separate from planning. In England you can use the council's building control team or a registered building control approver; a full plans application gets the drawings checked before work starts, and the inspector signs the work off with a completion certificate.
Before any drawing is finalised we check whether the house is listed, in a conservation area or subject to an Article 4 direction.
Building over or within 3 m of a public sewer needs the water company's consent, usually through a build-over agreement, before the foundations go in.
If the work involves a shared wall, building on the boundary, or digging foundations within 3 m (sometimes 6 m) of a neighbour's building, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and notice must be served before work starts: two months for work to a party wall, one month for new walls on the boundary and for excavations.
Applications are decided by the local planning authority (your district, borough or unitary council).
Included in a typical project
- Submission to the council or a registered building control approver
- Building regulations drawings and written specification
- Completion certificate on sign-off
- Structural calculations for beams, lintels and foundations
- Inspection bookings throughout the build
- Energy and glazing checks, including whole-house calculations if needed
Building regulations approval and planning permission are separate. A design can have planning consent and still need changes to meet the regulations, which is why we draw for both together.
What it costs in Bath
Guide fees for Bath including VAT, using our South West England factor of ×1.02. Council and building control charges are not included.
| Option | What it covers | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Building regulations drawings for a simple single-storey extension | £900 – £1,850 |
| Standard | Drawings plus structural calculations | £1,300 – £2,700 |
| Premium | Complex or two-storey pack with energy calculations | £2,200 – £3,900 |
Our design fee only. Building control charges are set by your council (or, in England and Wales, a registered building control approver) and quoted separately.
Try the guide-price tool to see a range for your own size and finish.
Our process, step by step
Site visits are free and there is no obligation. Where drawings are needed, the design stage is priced in writing before it starts.
Free site visit
We visit your Bath home, measure up, talk through what you want and check the planning position.
Design and approvals
We draw the design, agree it with you and handle planning or permitted development checks and building regulations.
Fixed written price
The price is fixed in writing once the design is settled, with a clear programme and payment stages.
Build and sign-off
The build is managed from start to finish, inspected at each stage and signed off on completion.
Common questions in Bath
Will my neighbours in Bath be involved?
If a planning application or prior approval is needed, the council notifies neighbours. If the work is on or near a shared boundary, party wall notices may also be needed.
Do I need building regulations approval in Bath?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
Do you cover all of Bath?
Yes. We cover Bath and the surrounding parts of Somerset. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
Full plans or building notice?
A full plans application gets the drawings checked before work starts, which we usually recommend for extensions. A building notice is quicker to submit but carries more risk if something needs changing on site.
Who are building control?
Either your local council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Both inspect the work and issue the completion certificate.
Book a free site visit in Bath
We will measure up, check the planning position and give you honest guide figures.
- Free, no-obligation site visit
- Planning route checked before you spend on drawings
- Written price once the design is agreed
- Building control sign-off at the end
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6341 or .
Book a free site visit
Tell us a little about the project and we will arrange a time.