The Role of the Building Inspector
There is often confusion between the planning officer and the building inspector, despite the fact that their roles are quite separate. Planning officers are concerned with your use of the land and how it will impact on other people, nearby buildings and the environment in general; whereas building inspectors are concerned about the building work itself and whether it is consistent with the approved plans and complies with Building Regulations.
There are effectively two different types of inspector. The first are those who enter the profession with a wealth of prior experience and knowledge about the construction industry because they were once themselves a builder or were indirectly involved in the trade. These inspectors are often able to advise you about practical solutions to difficult problems. They can help you to overcome obstacles and build your dream home within the bounds of the relevant legislation. Some will even see a major problem as a professional challenge, going all out to resolve it for you, rather than face defeat. The second type includes academics who, with college or graduate training, become inspectors despite having very limited or no on-site experience. Although the latter may have an equal desire to be helpful, their lack of 'hands-on' practice means they may be less able to devise solutions to the same problems. Nonetheless, a solution will probably exist, but it will i nvariably be down to you or your architect to identify it.
The inspector's service is not free. The local authority will charge for the time given for advice, plan vetting and site inspections. It is wise, therefore, to discuss any proposed works on scheduled inspection dates, rather than contact them with different issues on different days. For example, at the pre-foundation stage you could consult the inspector on the type of damp-proof course recommended and any tips they might have on installation techniques.
It is interesting to note that some construction experts and commentators advise the least possible contact with building inspectors. We can only imagine this must be bone out of a particularly bad experience. On the contrary, we have found inspectors to be usually informative, experienced and helpful; the more involved they are in the construction, the more likely they are to offer good practical advice about building methods and materials.
