News release

Building Control Customer Satisfaction Survey

Following the recent partnership between Southampton and Eastleigh Building Control services, a customer satisfaction survey was carried out to obtain feedback from our major customers to determine how well we were doing and how the services can be improved.

300 questionnaires were sent out with over 90 being returned. If you are interested in seeing the results they can be viewed from the link to the right of this page.

An action plan is being drafted in response to the suggestions highlighted and this will be presented at the next Building Control Customer Focus Group.

Approved Document G Hygiene

Public consultation is currently being undertaken on a new revised Approved Document G Sanitation, Hot Water Safety and Water Efficiency. Proposed changes include:

• Wholesome Water requirements with guidance on the use of captured rain water.

• Water efficiency guidelines for new dwellings (125L/head/day).

• Measures to limit the temperature of water delivered at outlets to 48 degress C.

• Guidance on the design of solar hot water systems.

Further details and comments may be made by visiting the Approved Document G link to the right of this page.

Better value local building control services

Residents and businesses will see better service and value for money from local building control services from 1 April 2008 following a partnership between Southampton and Eastleigh Building Control Services.

The partnership aims to align services across the Southampton and Eastleigh areas to support customers who undertake building work and experience of other authorities show that services delivered in this way will improve significantly resulting in benefits to customers and businesses.

The new partnership will be working with its customers over the coming months to ensure that this service continues to provide excellent services for all people who use it. Neil Ferris, Joint Head of Building Control for the Partnership says "this is an excellent opportunity to work together to improve local authority servcies for local people. Staff are looking forward to delivering effective high quality services over the wider geographical area".

Further information on services can be obtained by accessing the Eastleigh building control web page, link on the top right hand side of this page, or by using this link to the Southampton building Control main page

All new UK homes to be Zero Carbon by 2016

A proposed paper, released by the government’s department for building regulations, the DCLG, outlines a target that all new UK housing would be zero carbon by 2016. The paper entitled ‘Building a Greener Future’ proposes changes to the planning policy, draft code for Sustainable Homes and Building Regulations.

A zero carbon home (net over the year) will use renewable or very low carbon energy in addition to high levels of insulation. Energy use for cooking, washing, and electronic entertainment appliances will be taken into account in addition to space heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and hot water.

Interestingly, assessment against carbon cost for new homes is likely to be mandatory from 2008, under The Code for Sustainable Homes, although a specific rating may only be necessary for new homes built by Registered Social Landlords / Housing Corporations.

Building Regulations are likely to be stricter on carbon emissions for everyone by 25% in 2010 and 44% in 2013, in order to meet the zero carbon standards by 2016. For more information visit the links to the right of this page.

Other Building Regulations News

The council’s Building Control Surveyors are currently checking 85% of applications within 15 working days.

Electronic Plan Submission now available online, see link below.

Electronic plan submission

You can submit your building regulations application to us online. See this page for more details.