Temporary Structures

THE LONDON BUILDING ACTS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1939
as amended by The Building (Inner London) Regulations 1985

Part IV Special and Temporary Buildings and Structures

The definition of ‘Building’ in the Regulations is ‘any permanent or temporary building but not any other kind of structure or erection, and a reference to a building includes a reference to part of a building’. All structures are therefore subject to Part IV unless they are an integral part of a building.

Examples of structures which are not buildings or parts of buildings are free-standing walls or fences exceeding six feet in height, free-standing chimneys and masts, and the lighting towers and elevated unroofed grandstands at sports grounds, and consent would be required for all of these unless they were exempted, e.g. by section 149 of this Act.

29. The provision of this Part of this Act shall apply to any structure or to any building other than a building:

(a) to which the Building Regulations 2000 apply; or

(b) which falls within schedule 3 to the Building Regulations 2000 (exempt buildings and works); or

(c) to which section 4 of the Building Act 1984 (exemption of buildings of statuary undertakers) applies.

Note that Part IV does not apply to buildings to which the Building Regulations 2000 apply or to those exempted by the Regulations or by section 4 of the Building Act 1984.

Under the previous provisions of Part IV consent had been given to many steel ventilating ducts and chimneys attached to external walls and steel plant-support platforms (e.g. for air conditioning plant) on roofs. These are now deemed to be within the definition of ‘building’ and consent is not needed. Where structures are of comparatively short-lived materials a time limit is contained in the consent. At the expiration of that time it will be inspected and the consent may be renewed subject to any necessary repairs, renewals or maintenance.

30.  (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 (Construction &c. of buildings and structures) of the Act of 1935 and subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act the Council may consent to the setting up erection or retention of a building or structure to which this Part of this Act applies and it shall not be lawful to set up erect or retain such a building or structure without consent under this Part of this Act.

(7) The provision of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to:

(a) any hoarding duly licensed by the local authority under any other Act;

(b) any hoarding enclosing vacant land and not exceeding in any part twelve feet in height measured from the ground immediately beneath the face of the hoarding;

(c) any structure of a moveable or temporary character erected by a builder for use for purpose of the erection alteration or repair of any building unless the structure is not taken down or removed immediately after such erection alteration or repair;

(d) any pile stack or store of timber not being a structure affixed or fastened to the ground.

For temporary structure application form and fee schedule please click on the link on the right.