Material changes to high risk residential buildings

Probably referring to Building (Approved Inspectors etc. and Review of Decisions) (England) Regulations 2023 in relation to the carrying out of the building control function for all buildings, and the Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023..

see Schedule 1 to the HRB Regulations for specifics in detail

lifted from https://www.brownejacobson.com/insights/new-building-control-regime-for-higher-risk-buildings

"

The new building control regime will impact the day-to-day progression of HRB Works and works to higher-risk buildings throughout the lifecycle of any given project. The regime introduces detailed and extensive requirements in relation to the maintenance of contemporaneous records regarding the design and carrying out of the works, and the giving of notifications, and the provision of information, to the Regulator. The greater proportion of these requirements are the responsibility of the client (as opposed to the contractor or designer), and include signing a statement to confirm that the works, and the design of the works, complies with the Building Regulations. Non-compliance risks refusal by the Regulator to grant a completion certificate for the works, which is likely to be required to achieve practical completion, and insure, occupy or sell the property..."

However, there are exceptions.

The work is excluded from the requirement to obtain building control approval because it consists of only:

• “Scheme work”, which means work which can be carried out under a self-certification or third party certification scheme in accordance with reg. 20 and 20A, Building Regulations.
• “Exempt work”, which broadly covers discrete electrical or plumbing work of the type typically carried out for domestic clients.
• “Emergency repairs”, which means repairs necessary to be carried out as a matter of urgency due to a risk to the health, safety or welfare or persons in or about the building, and it is not practicable to apply for building control approval.

All other work to an existing higher-risk building requires building control approval

What you have been told sounds  like part P but without the self notification - though from what I have read, I'd expect that to be a permitted exception for now at least as most BCOs are not equipped to inspect electrics.

Mike.