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Dangerous Structures and Demolition
Dangerous Structures
All buildings which appear to be dangerous, should be reported to the Building Control Section who will treat the matter with utmost urgency.
The powers for dealing with dangerous structures are contained in Section 76 -79 of the Building Act 1984 and there are basically two ways in which this can be done, either through serving notice on the building owner through the Magistrates' Court requiring the danger to be removed, or in an emergency the Local Authority may take action themselves and recover costs later.
It is the normal practice to discuss the dangerous structure with the owner in the hope that the matter can be resolved quickly without recourse to the courts and generally once a danger has been pointed out, owners are only too pleased to deal with it.
Demolition
Demolition is covered by section 80-83 of the Building Act. Anyone wishing to demolish should contact the Building Control section at Castle Morpeth Borough Council on Tel: 01670 794692, alternatively you may Fax: 01670 794781.
There are only minor demolition works exempt from the requirement to notify. The demolisher may also need to notify adjoining owners and statutory authorities, i.e gas, electric board etc. The Building Control Section may require other works to be carried out, i.e. shore up adjacent buildings and weather proof them if needs arises, remove demolition material from site, make good any damage, seal off drains etc and impose restrictions as to how the demolition is to be carried out.
In all cases of dangerous structures or demolition consult the Building Control Section. They will be pleased to assist and the services is free.
To apply for demolition to a structure please click on the link below.
Application form to demolish a structure
FENSA- Replacing Windows
From April 2002, all replacement glazing will come within the scope of the Building Regulations. From then on, anyone who installs replacement windows
or doors will have to comply with strict thermal performance standards.
One of the main reasons for the change is the need to reduce energy loss. The Building Regulations have controlled glazing in new buildings for many years but they represent only a very small percentage of our total building stock. It is also essential to improve the performance of the much larger numbers of existing buildings if we are to meet increasingly stringent national and global energy saving targets.
When the time comes to sell your property, your purchaser's surveyors will ask for evidence that any replacement glazing installed after April 2002 complies with the new Building Regulations. There will be two ways to prove compliance:-
1. a certificate showing that the work has been done by an installer who is registered under the FENSA scheme.
2. a certificate from the local authority saying that the installation has approval under the Building Regulations.
The FENSA Scheme
It is estimated that around 2 million installations of replacement glazing happen every year. If all of them went through the normal Building Regulations application process it would place an enormous burden on local authorities. It is essential to have a way to ensure that the work is done properly without an unreasonable increase in the administrative and financial burden on installers and property owners. The answer is a scheme which allows installation companies that meet certain criteria to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations. The scheme is known as FENSA, which stands for Fenestration Self-Assessment. It was set up by the Glass & Glazing Federation, in association with all key stakeholders, and meets with central Government approval. A sample of the work of every installer will be inspected by FENSA appointed inspectors to ensure standards are maintained. FENSA will also inform local authorities of all completed FENSA installations and issue certificates to householders confirming compliance.
Any installation done by a firm which is not registered to self-certify, or done as a DIY project by a householder, will need full local authority approval under the Building Regulations. Local authorities will know of all the approved installers in their areas and will be able to identify unauthorized work very easily. You should note that you, as the house owner, are ultimately responsible for ensuring the work complies with the Building Regulations.
Before you sign a contract to buy replacement glazing be sure to ask whether the installer is able to self-certify. If not either they, or you, will need to make an application to Castle Morpeth Borough Council for approval under the Building Regulations and pay any relevant charges.
Further information is available from your Building Control office at
Castle Morpeth Borough, Longhirst Hall, Longhirst, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3LR
Tel: Morpeth (01670) 794692 - Fax: Morpeth (01670) 794681
There is also information on the GGF web site www.ggf.org.uk
Enforcement
The Council have the power to enforce the Regulations and to take action against contraventions or breaches of the Regulations. Most problems can be solved amicably by discussion but the Council will take action where necessary to ensure health and safety and good standards of construction.
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