5B057E - Building Control, Legislation and Professional Practice 01 Sep 2026 - 31 Jul 2032 | Version 1
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | 5B057E | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | Building Control, Legislation and Professional Practice | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science | ||
| Faculty Group: | Built and Sustainable Environment | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Built Environment | ||
| Module Leader: | Grant Avon | ||
| Module Team: | Thomas Lambourne | ||
| First Intended Intake: | SEP 2026 | Final Year of Intake: | |
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 30 | Credit Level: | 5 |
| Language: | English | ||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | 0 | ||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | 100216 - building surveying | ||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | 100 | ||
Document Version Information
| Version | 1 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Sep 2026 |
| Valid To | 31 Jul 2032 |
Module Aims
Develop applied competence in Building Control legislation, procedure and technical decision-making, including fire safety, conservation, fuel and power regulation, boundary law, asbestos control and compliance within diverse housing environments.
Enable students to understand how Building Control interacts with broader housing systems, including tenure types, urban change, regeneration, social mixing, gentrification and tenant/resident participation.
Strengthen students’ ability to evaluate risk, safety and community impact, applying Building Control principles to improve building performance, occupant safety and social outcomes across varied residential and urban contexts.
Content Summary
This module develops a comprehensive understanding of Building Control as both a technical regulatory function and a key mechanism for shaping safe, sustainable and inclusive housing environments. Students explore the legislative and procedural foundations of Building Control, including the Building Act 1984, Approved Documents, fire safety, heritage protection, the Party Wall Act, asbestos regulation, CDM duties, and planning interfaces.
Alongside the technical core, the module examines the wider housing systems in which Building Control operates: council housing, owner occupation, the private rented sector, mixed-tenure developments, gentrification, urban change, and the role of tenants and residents in influencing building safety and refurbishment. Students learn how regulatory decisions interact with social vulnerability, housing inequality, and the lived experience of occupants.
Through case studies, compliance scenarios and community-based examples, the module prepares students to apply Building Control principles within diverse housing contexts, ensuring they can recognise regulatory risk, promote safe building practices, and contribute to healthier and more resilient communities.
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Practical classes & Workshops | 24 |
| Groupwork | 12 |
| Seminar | 6 |
| Active/Simulation based | 6 |
| Demonstration | 6 |
| Formative assessment - scheduled | 2 |
| Formative Assessment - Independent | 16 |
| Summative Assessment | 60 |
| Direct Study | 54 |
| Independent Study | 114 |
| Total Hours Selected | 300 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Apply Building Control legislation, Approved Documents, statutory processes and technical standards to assess compliance, identify risk, and support safe development across a range of residential and non-residential contexts. |
| LO2 | Evaluate how housing tenure, community change, regeneration, social vulnerability and resident participation influence Building Control decisions, applying professional judgement to balance regulatory compliance with community needs and safety. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Practical Coursework 1 (Asynch) | Online Submission | 0 | 2000 | 40 | No | 40 |
| Asynchronous Assessment | Report | technical report + community context analysis | 0 | 3000 | 60 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | ||
| Practical Coursework 1 (Asynch) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Report | ✔ | ✔ | |