House, the Guildhall, the Royal Exchange, the British Museum and Covent Garden Market. In addition the buildings of dock and railway companies were completely exempt from the Building Act. Controls and regulation The creation of the Office introduced a number of changes from 1 January 1845, including: Builders were required to give the district surveyor two days' notice if they were to construct a new building or alter an existing one. Regulations were to be enforced regarding the thickness of walls, height of rooms, the materials used in repairs, the dividing of existing buildings and the placing and design of chimneys, fireplaces and drains. All newly constructed houses were to have back yards of a minimum size. Streets were to be at least wide, or the width to be the same as the highest building in the street, whichever was the greatest. Any alley or mews was to be at least wide, or the width to be the same as the highest building in the alley, whichever was the greatest. Every alley was to have two entrances, one of which was to be open from the ground upwards. Abolition By the Metropolis Management Act 1855 the powers of the Metropolitan Buildings Office passed to the newly created Metropolitan Board of Works. External links Metropolitan Buildings Office - AIM25 page 1845 establishments in England 1855 disestablishments in the United Kingdom History of local government in London (pre-1855) Housing in London Organizations established in 1845