A commencement notice is a statutory notification lodged with the local authority under the Building Control Regulations before certain building works start, giving formal notice that work covered by the Building Regulations is about to commence. It is lodged electronically through the Building Control Management System and is a separate requirement from planning permission.
A commencement notice is a document that must be submitted to the relevant local authority under the Building Control Regulations before building work covered by the Building Regulations begins. It formally notifies the local authority of the intended construction, giving them the opportunity to inspect the works during the build if they choose, and creating a record that the project has been notified in line with statutory building control requirements. It is entirely separate from, and additional to, planning permission, which deals with land-use rather than construction standards.
The notice is submitted online through the Building Control Management System (BCMS), and typically must be accompanied by supporting documentation including drawings and particulars of the works, details of the building owner, and, for works that require one, details of the assigned certifier and the builder undertaking the works. There are also related notice types, including the seven-day notice for certain smaller works that meet specific criteria, which involves a shorter and less detailed process.
Building work must not commence before the required notice period has elapsed following a valid submission, and starting works too early, or without lodging a notice where one is required, can result in the works being treated as unauthorised for building control purposes, which can cause significant difficulties later, including at the point of sale.