As chartered building control surveyors, we pride ourselves on being the first port of call for advice on how to satisfy the functional requirements of the regulations.

But it is becoming clear that there is considerable variation of implementation across the country. The complexity of the new Part L is such that there will be more variation as designers, contractors and surveyors struggle to understand the guidance. We are charged with enforcing the rules but to do so we need clarity. RICS is working closely with the ODPM to provide training workshops for about 900 building control surveyors early next year, but this will not help designers who have schemes on the drawing board now.

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