Demolition

The Council has powers to enable it to control aspects of the demolition of all buildings or structures within the district, except those that are exempt from such control.

	Photo of Radcliffe Camera

Buildings exempt from demolition control are:

• buildings having an external size of less than 50m3 (this volume is less than the average double garage)
• extensions on a larger building that consists of an attached conservatory, shed or garage
• buildings used solely as agricultural buildings
• work in occupied buildings where it is intended that it should continue to be occupied

Listed buildings and buildings in conservation areas

Any alteration of a listed building involving partial or complete demolition requires formal Listed Building Consent. Unauthorised alteration is illegal and can result in prosecution.

The substantial or complete demolition of an unlisted building in a conservation area requires Conservation Area Consent. Our Planning service can advise you on whether your proposals need formal permission.

Health and safety

The Construction Design and Management Regulations apply to most demolition work. For advice on this legislation contact the Health and Safety Executive using the details on the right of this page or visit the Health and Safety Executive website.

Asbestos materials

If during demolition works, materials of asbestos are found, the Health and Safety Executive should be notified immediately and their requirements for safe removal and disposal followed by the demolition contractor.

Unless the skip operator or other contractor is already licensed to transport asbestos based products a licence will be required from the Environment Agency to move any asbestos based material off site.

Notification by the person who intends to carry out a demolition

Anyone who intends to demolish a building that is not exempt should give notice to the Building Control Division before any demolition work starts. The notice must be in writing and must specify the building to be demolished.

A copy of the notice should also be sent to or given to the following:

• the occupiers of any building adjacent to the building to be demolished
• Work Scheduling Station, British Gas
• Southern Electricity Board
• Thames water Utilities Ltd.

A sample notice that you may use to give notification to the Council of an intended demolition can be viewed and downloaded below:

Notification by the Council (Section 81 Notice)

When the Council receives notification of intention to demolish a building, it can respond by serving a counter notice (section 81 notice), setting out conditions that must be complied with during the course of demolition.

Commencement of demolition work

Demolition work should only commence after either:

1. The Council have served a counter notice on the person intending to carry out the demolition work, under section 81 of the Building Act 1984.
2. A period of six weeks has expired since written notification of the intended demolition was given to the Council.

To find out more please contact us using the details on the right of this page.

Page last reviewed 3 Jul 2008