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Building Control

Volume 32: debated on Thursday 25 November 1982

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asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that he may make binding determinations in cases where there are differences in opinion between the applicant and the local authorities as to what constitutes compliance with a mandatory functional regulation in any new proposals relating to the building control system.

We are proposing a system of building regulations expressed as clear functional requirements. Clause 34 of the Housing and Building Control Bill introduced on 4 November would enable these functional regulations to be supported by "approved documents" giving practical guidance on compliance. Under clause 35, any designer or developer who was challenged in his use of these documents would be able to apply to the Secretary of State for a binding determination of whether his plans show compliance with the regulations.