Planning Permission in Garve
Planning permission is a system where local authorities can agree to building works by giving 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 home. Garage conversions tend to be protected by permitted development rights, which protect a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been removed in a number of regions by local authorities, usually 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 need planning permission. In addition, if any of the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you must obtain a Party Wall Agreement. You will still need to abide by all building regulations corresponding to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover elements of the conversion such as insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is usually a good idea to use an architect to draw up plans and 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 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.
