Planning Permission in Bushmills

Planning Permission in Bushmills

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can authorise building works by granting permission for the planned work. Garage conversions will mostly not require planning permission, as long as the work is internal and you don't intend to enlarge the structure of your house. Garage conversions tend to be covered under permitted development rights, which cover a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been rescinded in a number of locations by local authorities, particularly in new builds, therefore it is always worth verifying with your local authority. If you're planning to undertake a garage conversion on a listed building or live in a conservation area, you will require planning permission. Furthermore, if any of the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you will require a Party Wall Agreement. You will still need to conform to all building regulations related to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover parts of the conversion like insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is usually a good idea to work with an architect to draw up technical drawings and approve designs in order to ensure compliance with these regulations. You'll likely still need to submit plans describing the change of use of the garage to your local authority. If planning permission is considered from the start of the project, it is much less likely that there will be any trouble further down the road. Nearly all planning permission applications in England are approved.