Planning Permission in Liss
Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can agree to building works by granting permission for the proposed work. Garage conversions will typically not require planning permission, as long as the work is internal and you do not plan to enlarge the structure of your home. Garage conversions are often covered under permitted development rights, which cover a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been rescinded in some locations by local authorities, particularly in new builds, so it's always worth checking with your local authority.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 require planning permission. Furthermore, if any of the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you will require a Party Wall Agreement. You are required to adhere to all building regulations relevant to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover aspects 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 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. Nearly all planning permission applications in England are approved.
