Building regulations for extensions in Colne
Need building regulations for extensions in Colne? We survey the house, prepare what the council needs and deal with the officers until a decision is made.
- Guide price in ColneFrom £850 inc VAT
- Approval routeFull plans or building notice
- Timescale2–5 weeks for drawings
- Postcode districtsBB8

Will the council need to approve it?
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.
In a conservation area, national park, National Landscape, the Broads or a World Heritage Site the permitted development limits are tighter (no side or two-storey extensions without an application). Listed homes need listed building consent, and if permitted development rights have been removed, any extension needs an application.
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).
Local to Colne
We cover Colne and the postcode districts BB8. Neighbouring towns we cover include Nelson (2 miles), Burnley (5 miles), Accrington (11 miles), Rawtenstall (12 miles).
For homes towards North Yorkshire, Skipton is around 10 miles away. The North West has a high share of Victorian and Edwardian terraces with rear yards and outriggers, plus large areas of inter-war semis in the suburbs.
Who this service is for
- Homeowners using their own builder who need the drawings
- Glass-heavy designs that need energy calculations
- Every extension, whatever the planning route
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.
Design and approval fees for Colne
These are guide fees for Colne, adjusted for North West England (×0.95) and including VAT. Council application and inspection fees are paid separately.
| Option | What it covers | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Building regulations drawings for a simple single-storey extension | £850 – £1,750 |
| Standard | Drawings plus structural calculations | £1,200 – £2,500 |
| Premium | Complex or two-storey pack with energy calculations | £2,050 – £3,650 |
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.
Want a range for your exact size? The guide-price tool takes about a minute.
How the project works
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
It starts with a visit to your house to measure, check access and talk through ideas and budget.
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.
Questions answered
Do you cover all of Colne?
Yes. We cover Colne and the surrounding parts of Lancashire. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
Will my neighbours in Colne 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 Colne?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
What are the insulation standards for an extension?
In England, new walls in an extension should achieve a U-value of 0.18 W/m²K, roofs 0.15 and floors 0.18, with windows at 1.4 and rooflights at 2.2. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own figures.
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.
Book a free site visit in Colne
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.