Building regulations for extensions in Swanage
Need building regulations for extensions in Swanage? We survey the house, prepare what the council needs and deal with the officers until a decision is made.
- Guide price in SwanageFrom £900 inc VAT
- Approval routeFull plans or building notice
- Timescale2–5 weeks for drawings
- Postcode districtsBH19
What it costs in Swanage
These are guide fees for Swanage, adjusted for South West England (×1.02) 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 | £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.
Local to Swanage
Postcode districts we cover around Swanage include BH19. Nearby, we also take on projects in Poole (7 miles), Bournemouth (9 miles), Christchurch (12 miles), Ferndown (14 miles).
New Milton, in Hampshire, is roughly 17 miles from Swanage and also on our list. In the South West, local stone, render and brick vary from town to town, so matching materials is a big part of designing an extension that looks right.
Planning rules that apply in Swanage
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).
What we take care of
- Completion certificate on sign-off
- Inspection bookings throughout the build
- Submission to the council or a registered building control approver
- Building regulations drawings and written specification
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.
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
A designer visits, takes measurements and photos, and discusses layouts, budget and timing with you.
Design and approvals
We produce the drawings and structural design, and manage the approvals so they are in place before work starts.
Fixed written price
You receive a written, itemised price and programme. Nothing starts until you are happy with it.
Build and sign-off
We build it with one project manager, book the building control inspections and hand over the completion certificate.
Common questions in Swanage
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Swanage, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
Do you cover all of Swanage?
Yes. We cover Swanage and the surrounding parts of Dorset. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
How long does this take for a Swanage home?
2–5 weeks for drawings, depending on the council and the complexity of the project.
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 Swanage
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.