Building regulations for extensions across Penzance
For Penzance homeowners we handle building regulations for extensions, with fees agreed in writing before any work starts.
- Guide price in PenzanceFrom £900 inc VAT
- Approval routeFull plans or building notice
- Timescale2–5 weeks for drawings
- Postcode districtsTR18
Extensions in and around Penzance
Our survey diary covers Penzance, including TR18. Nearby, we also take on projects in Camborne (12 miles), Redruth (16 miles), Falmouth (21 miles), Truro (24 miles).
Plymouth, in Devon, is roughly 64 miles from Penzance and also on our list. 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.
Included in a typical project
- Completion certificate on sign-off
- Submission to the council or a registered building control approver
- Structural calculations for beams, lintels and foundations
- Building regulations drawings and written specification
- 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.
Design and approval fees for Penzance
Fees below are our Penzance guide (×1.02, the South West England factor), including VAT. Council and building control fees are extra.
| 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.
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
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.
Homes in conservation areas, national parks, National Landscapes (formerly AONBs), the Broads and World Heritage Sites have tighter rules, so we always check the property's status and planning history before design starts.
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.
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.
Applications are decided by the local planning authority (your district, borough or unitary council).
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
The price is fixed in writing once the design is settled, with a clear programme and payment stages.
Build and sign-off
We build it with one project manager, book the building control inspections and hand over the completion certificate.
Questions answered
Do I need building regulations approval in Penzance?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
How long does this take for a Penzance home?
2–5 weeks for drawings, depending on the council and the complexity of the project.
Who do I contract with in Penzance?
Your contract is with S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd, which designs and manages the project and the build teams who carry it out.
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.
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 Penzance
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.