Document
Building regulation changes from 1 July 2026
New building safety requirements in Wales
From 1 July 2026, changes to building regulations in Wales will introduce a new building safety regime affecting how building work is:
- designed
- approved
- carried out
These changes form part of the Building Safety Act 2022 and associated Welsh regulations. These changes not only affect work on high-rise buildings but will apply to all “controlled” building work, including minor works carried out by:
- homeowners
- builders
- developers
What is changing
New responsibilities are being introduced for those persons involved in the carrying out of controlled building work. All building projects will be subject to a new duty holder system. This means:
- clients, designers and contractors have clear legal responsibilities
- they must ensure work complies with Building Regulations throughout the project and will need to provide written confirmation statements
Domestic clients, if they are competent to do so, are able to take on the role of both Principal Designer and Principal Contractor, but they must be aware of the duties and responsibilities in doing so.
This is a significant change in how compliance is managed, and whilst it has always been the case that responsibility for compliance rests with the person carrying out the work, the new regulations formally set out that the responsibility does not sit with Building Control at the end of a project.
Greater emphasis on planning and compliance from the start
For Full Plans applications applicants will need to:
- ensure designs are complete and compliant before work begins
- provide accurate information to Building Control
- maintain good records of decisions and changes
Poorly prepared or incomplete submissions may lead to delays or refusal.
Stronger enforcement powers for Local Authorities
From July 2026 Councils will have additional powers to:
- issue compliance notices requiring issues to be corrected
- issue stop notices to halt unsafe or non-compliant work
- take enforcement action over a longer period (up to 10 years in some cases)
These powers are designed to improve standards and protect public safety.
What this means for typical building projects
For most projects (e.g. home extensions, loft conversions, internal alterations) application routes remain broadly the same:
- Full Plans applications
- Building Notices (where appropriate)
- Regularisation applications
But how you prepare and manage projects must improve. You should now:
- ensure designs fully meet Building Regulations before starting work
- appoint competent designers and contractors
- clearly understand who is responsible for compliance at different stages
- keep records of changes during construction
Examples of work affected
These changes apply to all controlled building work, including:
- all commercial work
- new dwellings
- house extensions and alterations
- garage conversions
- loft conversions
- structural alterations (e.g. removing walls)
- installation of drainage, heating or electrical systems
Even small projects must comply with the new responsibility framework.
What happens if work does not comply
Under the new regime:
- you may be required to correct or remove non-compliant work
- work may be stopped immediately if there is a safety concern
- enforcement action can be taken years after completion
Transitional arrangements
Projects submitted before 1 July 2026 may be subject to transitional arrangements, depending on:
- when the application was made
- whether work has started
If you already have approval, or an application deposited please contact Building Control for advice.