Planning Permission in Eyemouth
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 need planning permission, so long as the work is internal and you don't plan to expand the structure of your property. Garage conversions tend to be protected by permitted development rights, which cover a number of home improvement work. However, these rights have been rescinded in a number of regions by local authorities, usually in new builds, so it is always worth verifying with your local authority. If you're intending to undertake a garage conversion on a listed building or are in a conservation area, you will need planning permission. Furthermore, if any of the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbour, you will need a Party Wall Agreement. You are required to adhere to all building regulations pertaining to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover parts of the conversion including insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is generally a good idea to use an architect to draw up technical drawings 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 much less likely that there will be any trouble further down the road. The vast majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.