Planning Permission in Bamburgh

Planning Permission in Bamburgh

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can authorise building works by granting permission for the proposed work. Garage conversions will often not need planning permission, so long as the work is internal and you do not plan to expand the structure of your property. Garage conversions are often protected by permitted development rights, which protect a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been removed in a few locations by local authorities, especially in new builds, therefore it is always worth verifying with your local authority. If you're preparing to undertake a garage conversion on a listed building or live in a conservation area, you will require planning permission. In addition, if the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbour, you must obtain a Party Wall Agreement. You must abide by all building regulations relevant to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover aspects of the conversion such as insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is often a good idea to utilise an architect to draft plans also to approve designs in order to ensure compliance with these regulations. You will likely still need to submit plans describing the change of use of the garage to your local authority. If planning permission is taken into account from the start of the project, it is far less likely that there will be any trouble further down the road. Nearly all planning permission applications in England are approved.