Planning Permission in Johnstone
Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can authorise building works by granting permission for the planned work. Garage conversions will often not need planning permission, so long as the work is internal and you do not intend to enlarge the structure of your home. Garage conversions are usually covered under permitted development rights, which protect a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been rescinded in a number of regions by councils, particularly in new builds, so it's always worth checking with your local authority. If you are intending to undertake a garage conversion on a listed building or are in a conservation area, you will require planning permission. In addition, 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 adhere to all building regulations relevant 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 work with an architect to draw up plans also to approve designs in order to ensure compliance with these regulations. You will likely still need to submit plans detailing 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. The vast majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.