The Difference Between Planning and Building Control Drawings

Before your project can break ground, you’ll need both planning drawings and building control drawings completed.

It’s easy to focus on gaining planning permission, and many people are surprised by the building control process that comes once planning permission has been granted.

Here is our quick guide to building control drawings and how they differ from planning drawings.

A simple summary of the steps necessary in the architectural process is:

1. Design proposed and agreed.
2. Planning application submitted, including planning drawings.
3. Planning application reviewed and approved (hopefully!) but the local council.
4. Engineer review of the plans and detail added to architectural drawings.
5. Detailed building control drawings submitted.
6. Building control drawings reviewed and approved.

As you can see, the building control drawings build on the already approved planning application drawings.

To summarise the differences:

Planning drawings represent the scope of work proposed.

They are intended to show the approving body what building works are proposed, using scaled drawings of the exterior as well as internal plans. Planning drawings will include:

• The proposed work, to scale so that the size of the project can be determined.
• An overview of some materials used, for example when windows are to match existing.

Building control drawings give detail on requirements for the building work.

They use detailed annotations and more thorough drawings. Included will be:

• Engineers’ calculations where necessary.
• Detailed material requirements, for example, the level of insulation required in the loft.
• Construction methods to be used.
• Compliance with building regulations highlighted.

Here are some drawing examples to visually show you the differences:

1. A planning application drawing showing the scope of the proposed building work:
   
2. Building control drawings showing detailed notes on the materials and construction methods to be used:
   

It’s important to remember that approval of your building control drawings by your local building control team is mandatory before your building work begins. Make sure that all of your architectural quotes include this stage as well as your planning application.

We hope this guide to the differences between planning drawings and building control drawings helps you understand why both are needed. Please do get in touch with any questions you may have.