Part M Accessibility Requirements - London

Housing and Building Standards England 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 02, 2026 Flag of England

London, England developers, designers and building owners must follow Building Regulations Part M to ensure safe, inclusive access and use of buildings. This article explains the scope, key technical points, enforcement routes and practical steps to achieve compliance in London, drawing on the national Approved Document and local building control practice.

Scope & Key Requirements

Part M sets national technical standards for access to and use of buildings, including circulation space, entrance design, sanitary accommodation and means of escape for disabled people. The official Approved Document M provides guidance and illustrative details for England and is the primary technical reference for compliance and design in London. Approved Document M[1]

Part M applies to building work that requires building regulations approval rather than to every existing building element.

How Part M is applied in London

Local authority building control teams or private approved inspectors check plans and inspect works for compliance with Part M when building regulations approval is required. The Planning Portal and local authority guidance explain roles, submission routes and inspection stages for England. Planning Portal - Part M[2]

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement is carried out by the local authority building control department or by other enforcing bodies designated by the local authority. Where non-compliance is identified, authorities may use a range of civil and criminal powers to secure compliance or prosecute.

  • Fines: not specified on the cited page; see local authority enforcement guidance for monetary penalties and prosecutions.
  • Escalation: first, repeat and continuing offences procedures are administered by the enforcing authority; specific escalation penalties are not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: enforcement notices, remedial works orders, stop notices, seizure of unauthorised installations and court action where necessary.
  • Enforcer and complaints: local authority Building Control is the enforcing body in London boroughs; contact your borough building control to report non-compliance or request inspection.
  • Appeals and review: routes include challenging decisions through statutory appeal mechanisms or court review; specific time limits for appeals are not specified on the cited page and depend on the enforcement instrument and local procedures.
  • Defences and discretion: inspectors and courts may consider reasonable excuse, retrospective regularisation applications and approved inspector certification where applicable.
If a building has been altered without approval, a regularisation application may be required.

Applications & Forms

Typical submissions to achieve Part M compliance include Full Plans applications, Building Notice submissions and Regularisation applications for past works; fees, forms and processing vary by local authority. For templates, application steps and fee guidance see the Planning Portal and your local authority Building Control. Planning Portal - Building Control Procedures[2]

Common Violations and Typical Outcomes

  • Blocked or inadequate accessible routes - enforcement notice and required remedial works.
  • Improperly sited or sized accessible sanitary facilities - remedial order and possible prohibition on use until fixed.
  • Missing or inadequate handrails, ramps or tactile indicators - enforcement action to require improvements.
Address Part M issues early in design to avoid costly remedial orders or delays on site.

FAQ

Does Part M apply to alterations on existing buildings?
Part M obligations apply to building work that requires building regulations approval; alterations that affect access or facilities commonly trigger assessment against Part M guidance.
Who enforces Part M in London?
Local authority Building Control teams or approved inspectors enforce Part M compliance in London; contact your borough building control for inspections and complaints.
Can I get a retrospective certificate if work did not get approval?
You can apply for a regularisation certificate via the local authority, but acceptance and fees are at the authority's discretion and depend on the work and evidence supplied.

How-To

  1. Review Approved Document M guidance and identify applicable clauses for your project.
  2. Engage a qualified designer or building control surveyor to produce compliant drawings and specifications.
  3. Submit a Full Plans application or Building Notice to your local authority or appoint an approved inspector.
  4. Allow scheduled inspections and respond promptly to any remedial instructions.
  5. Obtain the completion certificate or regularisation certificate on satisfactory completion to confirm legal compliance.

Key Takeaways

  • Part M is national guidance applied locally by borough Building Control teams.
  • Early design compliance reduces risk of enforcement and remedial costs.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] GOV.UK Approved Document M - Access to and use of buildings
  2. [2] Planning Portal - Part M and Building Control procedures

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