Building Consultants in Derby
Warranty, energy, testing and building control for new homes in Derby, South Derbyshire and Burton upon Trent, managed by one team from our Nuneaton office.
Our record across the DE postcodes
- 50quote requests from DE postcodes since 2021
- 17of those projects went ahead with us
- 17projects asked for a 10 Year Structural Warranty
- 14projects asked for SAP calculations
Building in Derby
Which council deals with your site
The DE postcodes cross several council boundaries, so start by checking who covers your site. Inside the city, Derby City Council is the planning authority. Its Local Plan Part 1 (Core Strategy) was adopted on 25 January 2017 and runs to 2028.
Building control around Derby
Building control for Derby is provided by the Derbyshire Building Control Partnership, a joint venture that includes Derby City, Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales and North East Derbyshire councils. South Derbyshire is different: it sits in the Central Building Control Partnership. On any of these sites you can use a registered building control approver instead, and we can coordinate either route. How Building Control works.
Outside the city
Swadlincote is in South Derbyshire. Belper, Ripley and Heanor are in Amber Valley. Long Eaton and Ilkeston are in Erewash. Burton upon Trent has a DE postcode but is in Staffordshire, under East Staffordshire Borough Council.
Where our Derby area work really is
We want to be straight about this. Most of our work in the DE postcodes is south of the city: 19 requests around Burton upon Trent (DE13 to DE15) and 13 around Swadlincote (DE11 and DE12). Six came from Derby itself (DE21 to DE23), and the rest from places such as Belper, Alfreton and Castle Donington.
The pattern is clear. Clients here are mostly building new homes, and they want the whole compliance package in one place. Warranty comes first, followed by SAP, air and ventilation testing, EPCs and water calculations.
The former Jolly Colliers site at Newhall is a good example: nine homes, with building control, warranty, a Phase 1 desk study, energy work, testing and floor and roof supply all through us, over 15 site visits.
What Derby developers book with us
The services clients in the DE postcodes ask for most, in the order a new build usually needs them.
Phase 1 Desk Study
Often the first job on a new site. Site investigation.
SAP Calculations
From £95 + VAT. New-build SAP.
Water Calculations
From £20 + VAT. Needed alongside your energy work. Water calculations.
10 Year Structural Warranty
The most requested service in the DE postcodes. Lenders ask for it on new homes. Structural warranties.
Building Control
Arranged through a registered building control approver, or alongside your local partnership. Building control.
Structural Engineering
Foundation, beam and full structural design. Structural engineering.
Air Tightness Testing
From £95 + VAT (per plot). Air tightness testing.
Ventilation Testing
From £45 + VAT (per plot, on the same visit as other testing). Ventilation testing.
Sound Insulation Testing
From £375 + VAT. For attached homes and flats. Sound testing.
Guide price. Get a free quote for your project.
Building around Derby: things to check early
Local issues that are cheaper to deal with before the design is fixed.
World Heritage Site
The Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site runs for about 24km from Masson Mill at Cromford to the Derby Silk Mill. If your site is in or near it, take heritage advice early. Its management plan flags tall buildings near the Silk Mill as a particular concern.
South Derbyshire Coalfield
Swadlincote sits in the Leicestershire and South Derbyshire Coalfield. If your site is in a Development High Risk Area, most planning applications need a Coal Mining Risk Assessment. Householder applications are exempt. Coal mining reports.
Clay Ground
Our inspection records show medium shrinkable clay at Newhall and at Hanbury near Burton. Foundations on Burton Road, Swadlincote went to 1.4m. Do you need a ground investigation?
New Energy Rules
New rules for homes come into force on 24 March 2027 under the Future Homes Standard. A home can stay on the current rules if its building regulations application goes in before that date and work on it starts before 24 March 2028.
Local work
Recent projects south of Derby
Our published projects in the DE postcodes are all around Swadlincote and Burton.
Areas we cover
Covering Derby and the DE postcodes
We cover the city and the towns around it, across Derby, South Derbyshire, Amber Valley, Erewash and East Staffordshire. Our office is in Nuneaton. Desk-based services are delivered remotely and site visits are arranged through our national network.
- Derby
- Swadlincote
- Burton upon Trent
- Belper
- Ripley
- Heanor
- Alfreton
- Ashbourne
- Long Eaton
- Ilkeston
- Castle Donington
Derby: common questions
Who provides Building Control in Derby?
Council building control for Derby is provided by the Derbyshire Building Control Partnership. You can use a registered building control approver instead. We can coordinate either route.
Who covers Building Control in Swadlincote?
South Derbyshire District Council is part of the Central Building Control Partnership, not the Derbyshire partnership. You can use a registered building control approver there too.
Is Burton upon Trent in your Derby area?
Yes. Burton has DE postcodes and we have had 19 requests from the DE13 to DE15 area since 2021. It is in Staffordshire, so East Staffordshire Borough Council is the planning authority rather than a Derbyshire council.
How much does Air Tightness Testing cost in Derby?
From £95 + VAT (per plot). Guide price. Get a free quote for your project.
Can you do the warranty, SAP and testing together?
Yes. Most Derby area clients book several services together. You get one quote, one contact and a bundle discount.
When do the new energy rules apply to my homes?
The new rules come into force on 24 March 2027. A home can stay on the current rules if its building regulations application goes in before that date and work on it starts before 24 March 2028.
What do you need from me to quote?
The site address and postcode, your drawings (plans, elevations and sections) and anything you already have from planning or building control. We will come back with a fixed price.
Request Your Free Derby Quote
Complete the form below with your site address and a short description of the work. Tick what you need, or list other services in the box. Upload your drawings if you have them and we will come back with a fixed price.