South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 13/01/2016

South Gloucestershire Council has successfully prosecuted a local builder, who was fined £500 after pleading guilty to breaching building regulation rules.

The prosecution was brought against Sean Lennon, 49, of 43 Central Avenue, Hanham after he carried out building works to remove a load-bearing wall and chimney breast on a domestic property located on the same road as his home address.

Mr Lennon had failed to install the correct size beam when removing the wall and also failed to support a chimney wall after the chimney had been removed.

The case was heard at North Avon Magistrates’ Court on Friday 8 January. Mr Lennon pleaded guilty to failing to comply with building regulations and not notifying the council to inspect structural alterations following the work carried out in Hanham. The judge considered the work to be a threat to public safety and fined Mr Lennon £500 and awarded costs to the council of £500.

Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Chair Cllr Colin Hunt said: “Most building work carried out in the home these days requires building regulation permission. If you are employing a builder to carry out the building work in your home, it’s important to check that the work is being inspected by the council, who are here to protect your health and safety.”

The building control process exists to make sure that buildings are properly designed and constructed. For more info visit www.southglos.gov.uk/buildingcontrol