Building regulations for extensions in Torquay
For Torquay homeowners we handle building regulations for extensions, with fees agreed in writing before any work starts.
- Guide price in TorquayFrom £900 inc VAT
- Approval routeFull plans or building notice
- Timescale2–5 weeks for drawings
- Postcode districtsTQ1, TQ2, TQ3, TQ4
When it helps
- Every extension, whatever the planning route
- Homeowners using their own builder who need the drawings
- Glass-heavy designs that need energy calculations
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.
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.
The planning position for a specific Torquay address depends on its history and any designations, which is why we check it at the first visit.
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).
Extensions in and around Torquay
Site visits are available across Torquay (TQ1, TQ2, TQ3, TQ4). The same team covers Paignton (3 miles), Newton Abbot (6 miles), Exmouth (12 miles), Exeter (18 miles), all within easy reach.
For homes towards Dorset, Bridport is around 38 miles away. 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.
What it costs in Torquay
Guide fees for Torquay 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.
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
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
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
We confirm the build price in writing, based on the approved drawings and the finishes you have chosen.
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 Torquay
Do you cover all of Torquay?
Yes. We cover Torquay and the surrounding parts of Devon. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
Will my neighbours in Torquay 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.
How long does this take for a Torquay 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 Torquay
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.