Building Standards

Compliance Plan Approach – Guidance for Local Authority Verifiers

January 28, 2026 by Simon Moore No Comments | Category Building Standards, Compliance, Publications

Scottish Government Building Standards Division has published 2 national guidance documents as an amendment to the current verification during construction guidance.  These have been developed by Building Standards Division (BSD) in collaboration with a Local Authority Building Standards Verifiers Working Group.

They can be accessed at:

• Verification During Construction – High Risk Buildings -Verifiers Guidance to Support Implementation of Phase 1 of Compliance Plan Approach
• Verification During Construction – High Risk Buildings – The Compliance Plan Approach – Background and Implementation

These documents outline the steps that verifiers must follow when processing building warrant applications and completion certificates for defined High Risk Buildings (HRBs) to support implementation of phase 1 of the Compliance Plan Approach (CPA). This guidance is being introduced in anticipation of future legislation to mandate a CP for HRBs.  The Scottish Government’s response to the final Grenfell Tower Inquiry Report committed to further consultation in advance of any potential legislation.

Introducing guidance at this stage serves a number of purposes:

• introduction of measured change through guidance before legislative change, including opportunities for revisions based on feedback from stakeholders
• delivering on the Scottish Governments response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report
• delivering on the findings of the Review Panel on Building Standards Compliance and Enforcement chaired by Professor John Cole.

This guidance replaces the Verification During Construction (VDC) guidance for major work to defined HRBs. For all other work requiring a building warrant, the existing VDC guidance remains applicable.

Any feedback can be submitted through the online form Compliance Plan Approach Verifier Guidance Feedback.  Should you have any questions, please email buildingstandards@gov.scot.

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