Planning Permission in Northolt
Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can agree to building works by granting permission for the planned work. Garage conversions will mostly not require planning permission, as long as the work is internal and you do not intend to enlarge the structure of your home. Garage conversions tend to be protected by permitted development rights, which protect a number of home improvement work. However, these rights have been removed in some locations by councils, particularly in new builds, so it is always worth verifying with your local authority. If you are thinking about undertaking a garage conversion on a listed building or are in a conservation area, you will need planning permission. In addition, if any of the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you must obtain a Party Wall Agreement. You will still need to abide by all building regulations relevant to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover elements of the conversion like insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is often a good idea to use 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 describing 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 line. Nearly all planning permission applications in England are approved.