Bedford Borough Council is taking action to support residents following the unexpected closure of PWC Building Control Services Ltd (PWC), which had been providing building control services for five local authorities, including Bedford Borough.
With PWC placed into voluntary liquidation, the Council is ready to assist residents and ensure projects remain compliant with building regulations. Many projects previously under PWC’s supervision can now transition to Bedford Borough Council’s trusted Building Control services, which are staffed by professionally qualified and experienced surveyors.
Following the Building Safety Act, April was the deadline for building control surveyors to register with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) with only a few assessment bodies able to provide the necessary certification of competence. The new process of registration is causing issues for the sector and resulted in companies like PWC Building Control Services Ltd going into liquidation.
Building control is vital for ensuring the safety and quality of construction work, and Bedford Borough Council continues to offer reliable, cost-effective services. While residents have always had the option to use private services, the Council’s team is on hand to support them through this transition.
Councillor Andrea Spice, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Planning and Prosperity, said: “We are raising concerns with the Government that the new registration is one of many major changes sweeping a profession that is already under significant pressure. As a result of this change, we are asking the government to recognise the impact the registration of building control professionals is having on the whole sector and the affect this is having on businesses and residents getting the necessary approval they need – including the need for greater capacity nationally in building control.
She continued: “Although the closure of PWC was unexpected, we are ready to step in and help affected residents. We encourage anyone impacted to contact our Building Control department so we can work together to ensure building work continues smoothly. While we are committed to managing this increased workload as efficiently as possible, ensuring residents receive the highest level of service and support we know people will experience a delay.”
The Council remains focused on minimising disruption for affected residents and is here to provide expert guidance and assistance through every step of the building control process.