I am today publishing a consultation document on proposals for the future development of the building control system.

Home owners have the right to expect their homes to be built and renovated to minimum standards set out in building regulations. I want to make life more difficult for the cowboy builders that are out there whilst letting the high quality majority of the industry get on with the job. This should reduce the cost and burden of the process on both the industry and local authorities.

The building control system is critical to our ability to deliver a range of wider aims on housing supply, sustainability and other key health and safety related issues. Following discussion with stakeholders over the last two years it has become apparent that while the system is not broken, there are a number of issues which needed to be addressed to ensure that the system is fit for purpose now and in the future.

This consultation document also ensures we have a customer-focused building control system in which industry is able to plan with certainty and which is fully able to support the delivery of our housing supply and zero carbon housing targets in a way which delivers high levels of compliance at a reduced burden to industry and other stakeholders.

This consultation follows the paper published in March 2007 which set out the key areas for reform that we believed had the potential to address the main weaknesses in the system.

The proposals fall into the following five areas:

developing a vision for building control

establishing a better approach to the way we deliver regulations and guidance

modernising inspection and enforcement

providing alternative routes to compliance

enabling improved performance and capacity

The consultation is accompanied by impact assessments. Copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses, or it can be accessed via the Communities and Local Government website at: www.communities.gov.uk/futurebuildingcontrol

Consultation closes on 10 June 2008.