Planning Permission in St Leonards-on-sea

Planning Permission in St Leonards-on-sea

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can agree to building works by granting permission for the proposed work. Garage conversions will usually not need planning permission, as long as the work is internal and you do not plan to expand the structure of your home. Garage conversions are often covered under permitted development rights, which protect a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been taken away in a few areas by councils, particularly in new builds, so it's always worth verifying with your local authority. If you are planning to undertake a garage conversion on a listed building or live 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 need a Party Wall Agreement. You must conform 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 technical drawings and 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 considered from the start of the project, it is much less likely that there will be any trouble further down the road. The majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.