Building regulations for extensions in Formby
Need building regulations for extensions in Formby? We survey the house, prepare what the council needs and deal with the officers until a decision is made.
- Guide price in FormbyFrom £850 inc VAT
- Approval routeFull plans or building notice
- Timescale2–5 weeks for drawings
- Postcode districtsL37
Planning and approvals in Formby
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).
When it helps
- Homeowners using their own builder who need the drawings
- Every extension, whatever the planning route
- Glass-heavy designs that need energy calculations
What it costs in Formby
These are guide fees for Formby, 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.
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
Covering Formby
We cover Formby and the postcode districts L37. Nearby, we also take on projects in Maghull (6 miles), Southport (7 miles), Bootle (7 miles), Litherland (7 miles).
Just over the Lancashire border, Ormskirk is about 8 miles away. Across the North West, terraced houses with small rear yards suit compact rear and side return extensions, while suburban semis have room for more.
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
First, a site visit: we look at the house, garden, access and drains and listen to what you need.
Design and approvals
Once the layout is agreed, we deal with the council: planning permission or written confirmation that none is needed, plus building control.
Fixed written price
With the design and specification agreed, you get a fixed written price and a start date.
Build and sign-off
The build is managed from start to finish, inspected at each stage and signed off on completion.
Questions answered
Do I need building regulations approval in Formby?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
Do you cover all of Formby?
Yes. We cover Formby and the surrounding parts of Merseyside. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
How long does this take for a Formby home?
2–5 weeks for drawings, depending on the council and the complexity of the project.
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 Formby
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.