Building regulations prescribe minimum construction standards for new buildings and extensions and material alterations to existing buildings and certain changes of use of existing buildings. Part D of the regulations requires that work on such buildings be carried out with proper materials and in a workmanlike manner.
Compliance with the regulations is primarily a matter for the designers, builders and owners of the buildings involved. Enforcement of the regulations is the responsibility of local building control authorities. I have consistently urged the relevant authorities to be active in enforcing building regulations and I have taken a number of measures to improve enforcement at local level including, approving the creation of additional posts where necessary, allowing building control officers and support staff to be appointed, increasing building control fees with effect from 1 July 1998, and providing local funding for stricter enforcement.