Members of the District Surveyors Association have voted to merge with the Local Authority Building Control Services.

The organisation will be known as LABC, but will be registered as DSA Ltd.

Members voted for the change to give the public and government one point of call when dealing with building control. LABC Services currently deals with marketing and commercial matters, while the DSA deals with government.

Paul Everall, DSA chief executive, said: “It’s to sharpen up the public perception of LABC. Some people were confused by the DSA and the LABC and in central government circles it wasn’t always clear which one to speak to.”

Everall was appointed chief executive of the DSA earlier this month, having retired as head of the ODPM building division in March.

Kevin Dawson was elected DSA president at the annual general meeting last Friday.