Stage 6
Handover and Close Out
Chapter overview
There are few actions required with respect to planning at this stage, with the exception of ensuring that any pre-occupancy conditions are complied with.
The key coverage in this chapter is as follows:
Introduction
This chapter covers the requirement to discharge any preoccupancy conditions.
What are the Core Objectives of this stage?
The Core Objectives of the RIBA Plan of Work 2013 at Stage 6 are:
Planning issues at this stage are generally restricted to the discharge of pre-occupancy conditions.
Complying with pre-occupancy conditions
The planning consent may have imposed conditions that must be complied with before the building can be occupied. These can include:
- submission of details that were not necessary before commencement of work, eg submission for approval of a landscape scheme that will be implemented in the planting season following completion of the building
- conditions that require that the performance of the building meets a set standard, eg sound insulation or environmental performance
- requirements to make the building or access safe before occupancy, such as ensuring that access and parking are in place.
The project lead should ensure that these conditions have been complied with and that the necessary approvals have been obtained. The client should be informed of these requirements and advised of any potential delay to occupying the building.
Domestic projects at Stage 6 
Minor transgressions of planning law may be overlooked by the planning authority at the time, but it is important that the householder regularises all development work. When the householder comes to sell the house at a later date, any irregularities will be picked up by conveyancing solicitors as a risk of enforcement against future owners of the property.
6 Chapter summary
The project lead should ensure that pre-occupancy conditions are complied with.