HC Deb 17 November 1971 vol 826 cc133-5W
Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will specify in the OFFICIAL REPORT the obligations imposed upon house builders

authority and submitted to him for confirmation.

Mr. Michael Heseltine

Following is the information:

by the Building Regulations, 1965, and the penalties which may be imposed upon builders acting in breach of the regulations.

Mr. Channon

The Building Regulations, 1965, as amended, require that any person who intends to erect a building, alter or extend a building or instal fittings, or make any material change in its use shall, if the regulations apply to what is proposed, deposit plans, sections, specifications and written particulars with the local authority. The construction is also required to comply with the instructions laid out in the regulations. Part A of the regulations sets out in detail which parts of the regulations apply to new buildings, which to alterations and extensions, which to works and fittings and which to changes of use. In addition, the local authority must be given not less than 24 hours' notice of the starting of operations and of the covering up of foundations, damp proof courses, drains, and concrete and other material laid on the site. Notices must also be given not more than seven days after the completion of drain-laying, not less than seven days before the occupation of a new building, and not more than seven days after the completion of any work. If proper notice is not given, the builder may be asked to open up or pull down work or fittings so that the local authority can check that the regulations have not been contravened.

The Public Health Act, 1936, provides that if the regulations are contravened the local authority may require the owner either to pull down or remove the work or alter it to make it comply with the Regulations: if he fails to do so they may remove the work themselves and recover the expense of doing so. The Public Health Act, 1961, provides that if a person contravenes the regulations he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £100 and to a further fine not exceeding £10 a day after conviction so long as the default continues.