Why would it not comply?
Remember that the Approved Documents are just examples and not the only
way of meeting the requirements of the Building Regulations and
Building Act. Nowhere in the regulations does it state specific
dimensions

For example from Part A
"Loading
A1. (1) The building shall be constructed so that the combined dead,
imposed and wind loads are sustained and transmitted by it to the
ground -
(a) safely; and
(b) without causing such deflection or deformation of any part
of the building, or such movement of the ground, as will
impair the stability of any part of another building.

Thats the basics, and then we have the Approved Documents which give,
just one acceptable method of achieving this.

So if a building from constructed 100 years ago on shallow foundations
and with slender walls has conformed with the above statement (by
virtue of it not deflecting, deforming and is safe and stable), then
why can't a similar construction be accepted today as conforming to the
building regulations?

If it went to court, and the LA tried to prove that the construction
used did not meet the build regulations, then surely evidence of 1000s
of houses of similar construction to that used being perfectly stable
etc, would be proof enough that the construction method used met the
requirements of the building regulations?

dg