Mr Leonard Lowther E mail: Lowther27@gmail.

com

Our Ref:NB/74030904/13 Your Ref: 09 November 2013

Dear Mr Lowther, RE: Part M (access to and use of buildings) of the Building Regulations Thank you for your e-mail of 15 October to the Planning Minister, Nick Boles, on the subject of inclusion for all. I understand that colleagues in DCLG planning have replied in relation to planning policy, and as the policy lead responsible for Part M (Access to and use of buildings) I have been asked to respond. Building control is a devolved service. It is for the relevant Building Control Body to determine whether reasonable compliance with the functional requirements of the regulations has been achieved. Guidance in supporting Approved Documents suggest only one way in which compliance can be achieved alternative solutions may be deemed acceptable by the Building Control Body and need to be evaluated on a case by case basis. The Department for Communities and Local Government does not comment on specific cases. There are mechanisms for appeals against decisions made by Building control Bodies where the Secretary of State may take a view, but these are limited to those actually undertaking the building work in question. As a result there is no formal mechanisms for DCLG to take a view on the evidence you have submitted, and it would therefore be wrong for me to comment any further on the specific circumstances relating to this development. I note that you have already made official complaints to the council and the local Authority Ombudsman. You may wish to take independent legal advice on whether there are other routes of recourse open to you. Yours sincerely,

Principal Architect Building Regulation and Standards Division

Department for Communities and Local Government Tel 0303 44 41778

Department for Communities and Local Government Eland House Bressenden Place Victoria London SW1E 5DU

Department for Communities and Local Government

Tel 0303 44 41778