How do I make a Reversion application?

Legislation allows Registered Building Control Approvers (RBCA - formerly known as AI - Approved Inspectors) to carry out the building control function. RBCA’s submit an Initial Notice to the Council. This removes the Council from any obligation to control the work. Approval of the work is subject to the Registered Building Control Approvers control.

Please check the Registered Building Control Approver on the Find a registered building control approver in Wales - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab) for current details of insurance.

If the Registered Building Control Approver is unable to carry out their functions. They or the person carrying out the works must cancel the Initial Notice submitted to the Council.

Any cancelled Initial Notice can then revert to the Local Authority in which the local authority would oversee the remaining building control function of the project, unless a New IN by a different RBCA is given to the Local Authority either:

Within seven days of the Local Authority receiving the cancellation notice, if the cancellation notice was issued by the original RBCA .
At any point before the Local Authority has taken positive steps to supervise the works, if the cancellation notice was issued by the person carrying out the work.

The use of a New IN is acceptable where a new RBCA has been employed by the person carrying out the work on the basis of them undertaking all of the RBCA functions under Part 5 of The Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc.) (Wales) Regulations 2024 (opens in a new tab) and fulfils all the necessary elements set out in s53(7) – (14) (opens in a new tab) and s53B (opens in a new tab) of the BA84.

If an initial notice is not received within 7 days of the cancelation notice and a reversion application has not been submitted to the Local Authority, this leaves the work without a valid application and may result in a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Further guidance may be sort from the gov.uk website (opens in a new tab).

Examples of when cancelation notices may occur include:

When the Registered Building Control Approver does not have valid insurance.
If a Registered Building Control Approver ceases trading.
When there are unresolved issues or breaches of the Building Regulations on site.

Submitting a Reversion application

When submitting a reversion application each application is assessed individually and a bespoke fee will be produced dependent on the size of the project, stage of work the project has been reverted and information provided accompanying the application to determine compliance.

If we cannot ascertain compliance with particular elements of the work, we may have to ask for certain works to be uncovered for our inspection. We will try to keep this to a minimum.

Next Steps

Email Pembrokeshire County Council Building Control Building.Control@Pembrokeshire.gov.uk:

Request a reversion application form.
Attach applicable cancelation notice.
Attach supporting document and evidence such as approved inspector records, approved plans, condition list, specifications, certificates, photos, statutory consultation responses, engineers designs and reports, and reports such as radon or coal mining reports.

If you would like to discuss further with one of our team members please see the link provided for contact details Contact Building Control - Pembrokeshire County Council (opens in a new tab) or alternatively via an email to Building.Control@Pembrokeshire.gov.uk and leave your contact details to which a team member will respond.

Further information can also be obtained via LABC in which identifies responses to frequently asked questions FAQs on Approved Inspector insurance issues | LABC (opens in a new tab).