Planning Permission in Havant

Planning Permission in Havant

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can authorise building works by giving permission for the planned work. Garage conversions will mostly not require planning permission, so long as the work is internal and you do not intend to enlarge the structure of your property. Garage conversions are often protected by permitted development rights, which cover a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been rescinded in certain areas by local authorities, especially in new builds, so it's always worth verifying with your local authority. If you are preparing to undertake a garage conversion on a listed building or are in a conservation area, you will require planning permission. Furthermore, if the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbour, you must obtain a Party Wall Agreement. You must comply with all building regulations relevant to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover aspects of the conversion like insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is generally a good idea to utilise an architect to draft plans and also to 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 taken into account from the start of the project, it is far less likely that there will be any trouble further down the road. The vast majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.