Building regulations privacy notice

Reviewed: 3 October 2023

Our contact details

Name: Data Protection Officer

Address: Time Square, Market Street, Bracknell, RG12 1JD

Phone Number: 01344 352000

Email: dpo@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

Bracknell Forest Council is registered as a controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

You can find us on the ICO website - our registration number is Z4971654.

The type of personal information we collect

We currently collect and process the following information:

  • full name
  • address
  • phone number
  • email address

The personal data we process may also include the following sensitive personal data:

  • information relating to disabilities

How we get the personal information and why we have it

Most of the personal information we process is provided to us directly by you for one of the following reasons:

  • to process your application or the service you need for building regulations compliance
  • to enable us to be able to issue valid certificates or permits and communicate effectively with you about your application
  • if you are the owner of a building or structure that becomes dangerous we may collect your personal information so that we can resolve the issue in line with dangerous building and structure legislation

If you do not provide your name and address we are unable to legally process your building regulation application.

For the purposes of processing your application quickly and providing you with an efficient service, we ask that you also voluntarily provide us with a contact telephone number and email. These details do not have to be given and you can request that they are removed at any time, however this may result in delays if the council needs to contact you about your application.

We also receive personal information indirectly, from the following sources in the following scenarios:

  • if we receive a neighbour complaint, or complaint from a member of the public or organisation in relation to a matter of concern for our service and they provide us with data which relates to you

We use the information that you have given us in order to administer and discharge the functions required of us under the Building Act 1984 and the Building Regulations (as amended) 2010 to make sure of:

  • the health, safety and welfare of people in and around buildings
  • the energy efficiency of those buildings

An example of this may include issuing you with statutory notices or contacting you to arrange inspections of your property during construction works or dangerous events.

How the law allows us to use your personal information

The Building Regulations (as amended) 2010, sections 13,14 and 18, makes it a requirement that any persons who undertakes building work at their premises applies for building control consent. In applying for building control consent you must  provide your name, address and contact details.

The council also has a statutory duty to protect members of the public from dangerous buildings or structures under the Building Act 1984, sections 77,78 and 79. In doing so it may be necessary to get the name and address of the building or structure owner so that the dangerous condition of the structure or building can be abated or if the council has to exercise its enforcement powers in relation to the matter.

Lawful basis for processing

Under the Data Protection Act 2018 UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the lawful basis for processing is Article 6 UK GDPR:

  • (c) processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which we are subject

Special category data

Special category data is being processed under Article 9 UK GDPR:

  • (g) processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest

Who we share your information with

Information held by the council may be shared with:

  • other council departments such as legal services
  • other relevant local authority building control teams within England or Wales, if your application has been submitted under a partner agent registered with the national LABC partnership scheme
  • other local or national enforcement agencies
  • investigative contractors and other third parties to prevent crime, protect the public form harm or fraud and protect public funds
  • statutory consultants such as Thames Water or the fire and rescue service

How we store your personal information

Your information is securely stored in our electronic database and administration system.

The council will keep a record of building regulation applications for a period of 15 years.

This is in line with the council's retention policy, which in turn is taken from government guidelines published in the building control performance standards document.

Information in relation to dangerous structures will be retained for a period of 7 years from the last action in the case, in line with local government best practice.

Retention periods are laid out in the council’s retention and disposal schedule.

Your data protection rights

Under data protection law, you have rights we need to make you aware of. The rights available to you depend on our reason for processing your information.

Your right of access

You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information. This right always applies. There are some exemptions, which means you may not always receive all the information we process.

Find out more about your right of access from the ICO.

Your right to get your data corrected

You have the right to ask us to correct information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete information you think is incomplete. This right always applies.

Find out more about your right to get your data corrected from the ICO.

Your right to get your data deleted

You have the right to ask us to delete your personal information in certain circumstances.

Find out more about your right to get your data deleted from the ICO.

Your right to limit how organisations use your data

You have the right to ask us to limit the processing of your information in certain circumstances.

Find out more about your right to limit how organisations use your data from the ICO.

Your right to object to the use of your data

You have the right to object to processing if we are able to process your information because the process forms part of our public tasks.

Find out more about your right to object to the use of your data from the ICO.

Your right to data portability

This only applies to information you have given us. You have the right to ask that we transfer the information you gave us from one organisation to another, or give it to you.

The right only applies if we are processing information based on your consent or for the performance of a contract, and the processing is automated.

Find out more about your right to data portability from the ICO.

Making a request

You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. If you make a request, we have 28 days to respond to you.

To make a request, contact us by:

Service adjustments

As a public authority and a provider of services to the public, we have a legal duty to comply with the Equality Act 2010.

This means we need to make service adjustments for anyone with a disability who contacts us in any capacity, to eliminate any barriers to accessing our services.

Our lawful basis for processing this information is article 6(1)(c) of the UK GDPR as we have a legal obligation to provide this. Our processing of special category data, such as health information you give us, will be based on article 9(2)(a), which means we need your consent.

We will create a record of your adjustment requirements. These will give your name, contact details and type of adjustment required, along with a brief description of why it is required. Relevant staff can access this to make sure they are communicating with you in the required way.

To request service adjustments, contact us by:

How to complain

If you have any concerns about our use of your personal information, you can make a complaint to us at dpo@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

You can also complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how we have used your data by:

  • visiting the ICO website
  • phoning the ICO helpline on 0303 123 1113
  • writing to:
    • Information Commissioner’s Office
      Wycliffe House
      Water Lane
      Wilmslow
      Cheshire
      SK9 5AF