http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/55/section/11Building Act 1984 An Act to consolidate certain enactments concerning building and buildings and related matters.1984-10-31texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-03-06Expert Participation2026-01-27 Part I Building Regulations Relaxation of building regulations Type relaxation of building regulations.111If the appropriate national authority considers that the operation of a requirement of building regulations would be unreasonable in relation to a particular type of building matter, the authority may, either on an application made by any person (the “original applicant”) or of its own accord, give a direction dispensing with or relaxing that requirement generally in relation to that type of building matter, either—aunconditionally, orbsubject to compliance with any conditions specified in the direction, being conditions with respect to matters directly connected with the dispensation or relaxation.2A direction under subsection (1) above—aif it so provides, ceases to have effect at the end of such period as may be specified in the direction,bmay , either on an application or of the appropriate national authority’s own accord, be varied or revoked by a subsequent direction of the appropriate national authority.3Building regulations may require a person making an application under subsection (1) or (2)(b) above to pay the appropriate national authority the prescribed fee, and—awithout prejudice to paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to this Act, regulations made by virtue of this subsection may prescribe different fees for different cases, andbthe appropriate national authority may in a particular case remit the whole or part of a fee payable by virtue of this subsection.3AThe regulator may at any time make a proposal to the Secretary of State for the giving of a direction under this section.3BBefore making a proposal, the regulator must consult—asuch persons as it considers appropriate, andbif the proposal is for a direction that would vary or revoke a direction given on an application under subsection (1), the original applicant.3CBefore giving a direction under this section, other than a direction proposed by the regulator, the Secretary of State must consult—athe regulator,bany other person the Secretary of State considers appropriate, andcif the direction would vary or revoke a direction given on an application under subsection (1), the original applicant.4Before giving a direction under subsection (1) or (2)(b), the Welsh Ministers must consult such persons as they consider appropriate.5Where the appropriate national authority gives a direction under subsection (1) or (2)(b), it must publish notice of that fact in such way as it considers appropriate.6A person who contravenes a condition specified in a direction given under subsection (1) above, or permits such a condition to be contravened, is liable on summary conviction to a fine ... and to a further fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale for each day on which the offence continues after he is convicted.7If at any time a direction under subsection (1) above dispensing with or relaxing a requirement of building regulations ceases to have effect by virtue of subsection (2)(a) above, or is varied or revoked under subsection (2)(b) above, that fact does not affect the continued operation of the direction (with any conditions specified in it) in a case in which before that time—aplans of the proposed work were, in accordance with building regulations, deposited with a local authority ...b. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .an application for building control approval in relation to the proposed work was made before that time. 8In this section, “building matter” means any building or other matter whatsoever to which building regulations are in any circumstances applicable.Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) restricted by Channel Tunnel Act 1987 (c. 53, SIF 102), ss. 31(1), 45, Sch. 7 Pt. VI para. 2Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) modified (1.4.1991) by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 60(2), Sch. 8 para. 18(1)Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) modified (17.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1732, art. 4(1)Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) excluded (18. 12. 1996) by 1996 c. 61, s. 38, Sch. 10 para.7PPt. I (ss. 1-46) excluded (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 4(5) (subject to art. 1(3))Words in s. 11(6) omitted (1.10.2023 except in relation to W., 6.4.2024 for W.) by virtue of Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 14(7)(a); S.I. 2023/993, reg. 2(n)(vii); S.I. 2024/207, reg. 2(d)(xi), Sch. (with regs. 3, 4, 8-12)Words in s. 11(6) substituted (1.10.2023 except in relation to W., 6.4.2024 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 14(7)(b); S.I. 2023/993, reg. 2(n)(vii); S.I. 2024/207, reg. 2(d)(xi), Sch. (with regs. 3, 4, 8-12)Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) excluded (22.7.2008) by Crossrail Act 2008 (c. 18), Sch. 14 para. 8Words in s. 11(2)(b) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 14(3)(b); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 18; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 11S. 11(3A)-(3C) inserted (1.10.2023 except in relation to W., 6.4.2024 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 14(5); S.I. 2023/993, reg. 2(n)(vii) (with reg. 4); S.I. 2024/207, reg. 2(d)(xi), Sch. (with regs. 3, 4, 8-12)S. 11(7)(b) and word preceding it repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 13Words in s. 11(1) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 14(2)(a); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 18; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 11S. 11(4)(5) substituted (1.10.2023 except in relation to W., 6.4.2024 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 14(6); S.I. 2023/993, reg. 2(n)(vii); S.I. 2024/207, reg. 2(d)(xi), Sch. (with regs. 3, 4, 8-12)Words in s. 11(3) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 14(4)(b); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 18; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 11Words in s. 11(2)(b) inserted (1.10.2023 except in relation to W., 6.4.2024 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 14(3)(a); S.I. 2023/993, reg. 2(n)(vii); S.I. 2024/207, reg. 2(d)(xi), Sch. (with regs. 3, 4, 8-12)Words in s. 11(3) inserted (1.10.2023 except in relation to W., 6.4.2024 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 14(4)(a); S.I. 2023/993, reg. 2(n)(vii); S.I. 2024/207, reg. 2(d)(xi), Sch. (with regs. 3, 4, 8-12)Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) excluded (23.2.2017) by High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Act 2017 (c. 7), s. 70(1), Sch. 22 para. 1Pt. 1 excluded (11.2.2021) by High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act 2021 (c. 2), s. 64(1), Sch. 22 para. 1(1)(a) (with Sch. 22 para. 1(2)(3))Words in s. 11(7) substituted (1.10.2023 except in relation to W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 14(8); S.I. 2023/993, reg. 2(n)(vii) (with reg. 3)Words in s. 11(1) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 14(2)(b); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 18; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 11Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) excluded (24.9.2014) by The Thames Water Utilities Limited (Thames Tideway Tunnel) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/2384), art. 1, Sch. 19 Pt. 1 para. 3Pt. 1 excluded (4.10.2024) by The National Grid (Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/958), art. 1, Sch. 15 para. 4 (with art. 40, Sch. 14)