Private control licences won

The local authority stranglehold on building control has finally been broken with the Department of the Environment's decision this week to grant unrestricted building control licences to six private sector companies.

The unrestricted licences mean the six companies (listed in panel) will be able to compete with local authorities for the first time in providing building control services in the industrial, commercial and residential sector.

NHBC building control manager Neil Cooper welcomed the DoE's decision this week: "Local authorities have had a virtual monopoly in this area and have been able to charge a fixed price for this work.

"Now they will have to compete in all three areas with the private sector. This has got to be good news for builders."

However NHBC Building Control Services has no immediate plans to expand into the industrial and commercial sector, added Cooper.

"Our focus is still going to be on residential building control. But an increasing amount of our members' work is on brownfield sites and mixed residential and commercial developments which our residential licence did not cover.

"Having an unrestricted licence will allow us to provide building control services for this work as well."

TPS Special Services, BAA Building Control Services and Maunsell Associates will also restrict their business to non-residential developments at present because of insurance restrictions.

The six companies have now formed the Association of Approved Corporate Inspectors to represent their interests at government level.

"We are hoping the association will provide a contact point for the government and present our case on planning and regulatory issues," said Cooper.