Scottish Building Regulations: Fire Safety review and Compliance: Call for Evidence

Closes 10 Apr 2026

Compliance - Compliance Plan: pre-warrant stage

The Compliance Plan Approach for HRB’s has been developed to include a formal pre-application or pre-warrant stage, which must be completed before a building warrant application can be made.

Its purpose is to focus pre-warrant discussions on compliance and how the risks of non-compliance during the construction phase can be managed and mitigated. Discussions with stakeholders have included a proposal that the formal pre-warrant process begins with an application for a Compliance Plan in Principle, that this must be submitted a minimum of 12 weeks before the first submission of building warrant for the project, and that the process, ending in the issue of a Compliance Plan in Principle by the verifier, must also be completed before a verifier can legally register an application for building warrant.

The 12 weeks period mirrors that required for a Planning Application Notice for Major Development to be submitted before submitting a planning application.

14(a). Do you agree with the proposed minimum 12-week timescale for submission to a verifier of an Application for Compliance Plan in Principle for a High Risk Building?

Please provide any evidence or examples to support views, contribution or comments.

14(b). Do you agree that a verifier should only register a building warrant for a High Risk Building after a Compliance Plan in Principle has been issued?

Please provide any evidence or examples to support views, contribution or comments.