Planning

Protection for your neighbourhood.

Very little work inside the home is subject to planning controls, but consult your local council planning department for any work that would affect the appearance of the building, add to the floorspace, including garages, extensions, conservatories, porches, loft conversions.

There are much tighter controls on work to listed buildings or buildings in a conservation area. If in doubt, ask your local council planning team.

Building regulations

Controls for safe, healthy, energy-saving improvements.

The building regulations have long had requirements that make buildings safer, avoid risk to health, promote the durability of the building, and limit noise nuisance. More recently there have been requirements that save energy, reduce CO2 emissions and make it easier to visit buildings. From 2007 there will be higher sustainability requirements.

Many changes to your home aren’t covered by building regulations including painting and decorating, replacing kitchen units or floor finishes, buying new electrical appliances, gardening.

>> Details on replacements that need to meet current building regulations.

A Guide to Conservation Areas in Scotland. Order a paper copy from the Planning Helpline on
08457 741741 or visit:

www.scotland.gov.uk

Select Topics, Planning and Building, Advice and Guidance

SBS (Scottish Building Standards).

Regulations, guidance, contact details for local council building standards teams:

www.sbsa.gov.uk