The response

And this week the Construction Industry Council, the Federation of Master Builders and the Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering become the latest institutions to offer support – which means that organisations representing 67,000 members are now backing reform. The campaign has already made an impression. Housing minister Yvette Cooper said the government is following it closely and is listening to the industry’s views. So, it is vital you keep sending in your support and let the government know the effect it is having on your organisation.

Too complex to understand …

When I was a member of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee and in charge of the working party that produced the 2002 revisions to Parts F and L, we successfully resisted the pressure to produce an overly complex solution to the perceived need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In particular, we managed to retain the concept of compliance by reference to the U-values of constructions – something that everyone in the business could understand.

These new proposals – destined to be soon in a legal framework – are likely to be honoured only in the breach, because only boffins will understand what they are supposed to be about.
Ken Blount, general editor, Knight’s Guide to Building Control Law and Practice and Knight’s Building Regulations 2000

The regulations are now so extensive, so complex and change so frequently that I do not feel confident that any project I’m working on fully meets the requirements.
Richard Diebelius, design manager, Mitchell Design & Construct

Sadly over-complexity of regulations has turned us from a nation of shopkeepers to a nation of checkers and testers.
Colin Marshall, technical manager, Tarmac Topblock

The regulations have become too complicated and impractical to apply.

As an architect, for the first time, I can no longer guarantee to my clients that projects leaving my drawing board will comply with the Building Regulations.

The legislators seem to have lost sight of the fact that the regulations should be drafted in such a way that they should be easily understood by all those involved in the building process. We have now got to a situation where even qualified professionals need to employ further external consultants to comply with the regulations and even then there have is no guarantee that the completed building will comply. What a ridiculous situation.
Robert Falkner, chartered architect, sole practitioner

This government seems hell-bent on legislating the housebuilding industry in particular into self-destruction

BH Southall, Bloor Homes

As a sole practioner it is currently impossible to keep up with the minutae of the deluge of regulations and standards that are introduced or changed. The result? Disputes with building control, who are often not totally clear what the regulations require.
RJ Baker, Baker & Associates

Ridiculously expensive …

As “secretary” (actually just minute-taker!) to the competent persons forum that meets at the ODPM, I witness at first hand just how ridiculously expensive and unenforceable the whole thing has become. It is certainly time to say stop to any more impositions on our over-regulated sector of industry and to call for a review of an outdated system that is ignored by the cowboy brigade.
Andy Watts, chief executive and secretary, the Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering

As a property management company we are swamped by the continuing tidal wave of legislation, all of which requires us to employ outside specialists – many of whom appear to be making their professions up as they go along.
John Ray, the Hitchin Property Trust

In 1997 Jersey introduced new Building Regulations that were an exact copy of England’s and has adopted England’s amendments since then. The problem here is that the approved documents are treated as though they are cast in stone. The building control officers offer no options for alternative solutions and happily let applicants pay for over-the-top construction, which benefits the public not one bit.
Philip Ahier, Department of Property Services, Jersey

And what’s more …

I do not think I have read a leader in the past few years and agreed with everything in it! Joined-up thinking went out of the window a long time ago, but unfortunately in my experience this “listening government” has never taken any notice of what anybody says.
Roger Heavens, area land manager, Croudace Homes

Both the Building Regulations and the planning system in this country have become a shambles. This government seems hell-bent on legislating the housebuilding industry in particular into a state of self-destruction.
BH Southall, manager, technical services, Bloor Homes

So what we need is …

A pause is needed so that there can be a complete rethink about the relationship between planning and Building Regulations. As both of these have become more detailed they are actively treading on each other’s toes and the old separation is beginning to make less and less sense.
Simon Foxell, the Architects Practice

Clear, concise Building Regulations, which are interpreted throughout the UK – not just England and Wales or Scotland or Northern Ireland – would assist in strengthening team strategy and partnering ethos. Keep going!
Elizabeth Russell, Russell Door Technology

Reduce the regulations to the size they were in 1976. All the “guidance” just reduces control in the long run. Take means of escape out of Part B and give it to the fire brigade, give Part P (electrical) to electrical inspection. Get the technical boiler stuff out of Part J – it’s beyond the knowledge and training given, which makes it dangerous! Revamp Part L onto a short side of A4 for just U-values for elements. The current situation is totally ridiculous and is drafted by civil servants with no concept of how it is to be enforced.
Les Clements, building control, Christchurch council