Planning Permission in Eye

Planning Permission in Eye

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can consent to building works by granting permission for the proposed work. Garage conversions will usually not require planning permission, as long as the work is internal and you don't plan to expand the structure of your house. Garage conversions are often protected by permitted development rights, which cover a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been taken away in some areas by local authorities, especially in new builds, so it is always worth checking 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. In addition, if any of the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbour, you will need a Party Wall Agreement. You will still need to abide by all building regulations relevant 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 generally a good idea to utilise an architect to draft technical drawings and to approve designs in order to ensure compliance with these regulations. You'll likely still need to submit plans detailing 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 much less likely that there will be any trouble further down the line. The vast majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.