Did you know you don’t need a CPS to notify Building Control?

A common misconception in the industry is that installers must belong to a Competent Person Scheme (CPS) in order to notify Building Control as part of the Building Regulations Requirement.

That is not the case. It has become much easier to do this via Planning Portal.

Simply Certification supports installers by providing a clear, standardised checklist and process for manual Building Control notification — removing confusion, reducing risk, and ensuring compliance without unnecessary complexity or third-party dependencies.

This route:

• Is compliant with Building Regulations, PAS 2030, MCS and TrustMark
• Provides a direct relationship with Local Authority Building Control
• Avoids reliance on third-party CPS schemes
• Creates a clear, auditable compliance trail
• Keeps control of evidence and outcomes with the installer

When is Building Regulations notification required?

As a rule of thumb:

If the work affects insulation, heating, renewables, ventilation, electrics or hot water systems, Building Regulations notification is required.

What measures does this apply to?

PAS 2030 measures

This includes (but is not limited to):

• External Wall Insulation (EWI)
• Internal Wall Insulation (IWI)
• Cavity Wall Insulation (CWI)
• Room-in-roof insulation
• Loft insulation (new or top-up)
• Floor insulation (solid or suspended)
• Mechanical ventilation (MEV / MVHR)
• Heating system replacements
• Unvented hot water cylinders

MCS measures 

This includes:

• Air source heat pumps
• Ground source heat pumps
• Solar PV
• Battery storage
• Solar thermal
• Biomass systems
• Other microgeneration technologies

Why installers choose Planning Portal to notify of works

Many installers assume Building Control is complex, in practice, it is straight forward via Planning Portal and only takes minutes!

Benefits include:

• No CPS subscriptions or annual fees
• No additional CPS inspections
• One clear Building Control reference number
• Inspections only where Building Control deem necessary
• Local Authority Completion Certificate issued
• Strong evidence for audits, surveillance and TrustMark
• In many cases, Local Authorities rely on photographic evidence and completion information rather than repeat site visits.

The process – in plain English

1. Set up your Planning Portal Account
2. Submit a Building Control application) and choose the correct application type (Building Notice – suitable for most PAS 2030 and MCS works)
3. Agree the Building Control fee
   • Building Control review the scope of works
   • A statutory fee is issued
   • Once paid, the application proceeds
4. Complete the works
   • Building Control may inspect if required
   • Evidence is retained by the installer
5. Receive completion confirmation
   • Completion Certificate issued by the Local Authority

The Planning Portal makes it very straight forward!

Simply Certification requirements

For all PAS 2030 and MCS installations, installers must evidence that they have notified Building Regulations by showing their completed application.

This ensures:

• Consistency across the scheme
• Clear evidence for audits and surveillance
• No ambiguity during UKAS or TrustMark review

The bottom line

This Building Control route is:

• Compliant
• Recognised
• Auditable
• Installer-controlled
• Future-proof

Simply Certification supports this approach because it is clear, proportionate and avoids unnecessary complexity — while protecting installers, consumers and the integrity of the certification process.