Planning Permission in Newbiggin-by-the-sea

Planning Permission in Newbiggin-by-the-sea

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can authorise building works by granting 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 expand the structure of your home. Garage conversions tend to be covered under permitted development rights, which cover a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been removed in some areas by local authorities, particularly in new builds, therefore it is always worth verifying with your local authority. If you are thinking about undertaking a garage conversion on a listed building or live in a conservation area, you will need planning permission. Furthermore, if any of the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbour, you will need a Party Wall Agreement. You will still need to comply with all building regulations corresponding to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover elements of the conversion including insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is often a good idea to work with an architect to draw up plans and also 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 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 majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.