Planning Permission in Mauchline
Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can agree to building works by giving permission for the planned work. Garage conversions will mostly not need planning permission, as long as the work is internal and you don't plan to enlarge the structure of your house. Garage conversions are often covered under permitted development rights, which protect a number of home improvement work. However, these rights have been taken away in certain locations by councils, particularly in new builds, therefore it is always worth checking with your local authority. If you're preparing to undertake a garage conversion on a listed building or live in a conservation area, you will need planning permission. In addition, if the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbour, you will require a Party Wall Agreement. You are required to abide by all building regulations corresponding to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover parts 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 also to approve designs in order to ensure compliance with these regulations. You'll likely still need to submit plans detailing 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 line. The majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.
