Building Act 1984

4 E+W Building regulations may—

(a) authorise local authorities to accept, as evidence that the requirements of building regulations as to matters of a prescribed description are or would be satisfied, certificates to that effect by persons of a class or description prescribed in relation to those matters or by a person nominated in writing by the Secretary of State in a particular case,

(b) provide for the issue by local authorities of certificates to the effect that, so far as the authority concerned have been able to ascertain after taking all reasonable steps in that behalf, the requirements of building regulations as to matters of a prescribed description are satisfied in a particular case, and for such certificates to be evidence (but not conclusive evidence) of compliance with the regulations,

(c) make provision—

(i) for prohibiting, in prescribed circumstances, the carrying out of proposed work of a prescribed class involving matters of a prescribed description unless there has been deposited with the prescribed authority as regards those matters a certificate such as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) above,

(ii) for enabling, in cases where such a certificate is required by virtue of paragraph (i) above, a dispute as to whether a certificate ought to be issued to be referred to the Secretary of State,

(iii) for enabling the Secretary of State, on such a reference, to give such directions as he thinks fit.