On Fri, 3 Sep 2004 12:23:37 +0100, a particular chimpanzee named
"Pecanfan" randomly hit the keyboard and produced:

1. The angle of the dangle (sorry, erm... the pitch) is clearly 45 degrees
on their drawing and building regs reckons 42 degrees is the highest pitch
you can have.

Correct.

2. The rise would appear to be 250mm, but again looking at the building
regs document 220mm would seem the be the max rise.

Correct.

The steel fabricators said they put staircases like this in all the time and
have never had any problems with building regs,

One of the biggest lies in the world (along with "the cheque's in the
post", "of course I'll still respect you"), is "we've never had a
problem with Building Regs". This could possibly be because they
never tell Building Regs, and leave it for the poor client to sort out
years down the line.

does it make any difference that this isn't the main entrance
to the flat.

Not in terms of the rise and going, etc.

I'll be drawing the plans up this weekend in preparation of having a chat
with planning, but what's the crack with building regs? As far as I can
gather I have the option of a 'full plans' submission, which will take about
5 weeks, or a 'building notice' which will take 48 hours, but they might say
no... after it's been fabricated... which wouldn't be good. What happens if
I just don't involve building regs? Do I just (!) run the risk of them
spotting it later down the line and forcing me to rip it all down?

Check on most Council's websites under Building Control, and they'll
explain the difference between a Full Plans application, and a
Building Notice. To summarise; the design of your stair will be
checked on a Full Plans (a good thing from what you've said so far),
but not with a Building Notice, until it's too late.

It's possible you could be made to remove or alter it if you're found
out within 12 months, but more likely if you come to sell, you'll be
asked by the buyer's solicitors for proof that it complies with the
Building Regulations, usually on the day before you're due to
complete.
--
Hugo Nebula
'What you have to ask yourself is, "if no-one on the internet wants
a piece of this, just how far from the pack have you strayed?"'