Man Fined For Building Consent Failure

A man has been fined by magistrates after starting to build a house without Building Regulations consent. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Terence Jones of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, was constructing the two-storey property at Gelli Hill, Llawhaden. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The court in Haverfordwest heard that despite efforts by Pembrokeshire County Council’s building control team to help Jones resolve the issue, no application was forthcoming. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jones was convicted on Friday (23rd September) after pleading not guilty to failing to give the Local Authority a Building Notice, or deposit full plans, in relation to the house. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He represented himself in court and was fined £400. He was also ordered to pay £500 towards the County Council’s costs plus a £40 surcharge on the fine. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In his defence Jones cited the time taken to obtain a decision on his Planning Consent application – a matter unrelated to the Building Regulations process. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

After the hearing, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Councillor Myles Pepper, said: “The building regulations exist to ensure the safety of buildings for their users and also to ensure the efficient operation of those buildings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Pembrokeshire County Council’s Building Control team take a proactive approach to helping applicants obtain consent and resolve any issues that may arise during the works. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“However, where developers fail to make a valid application, appropriate enforcement action will be taken to ensure that the building complies.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​