Planning Permission in Bedfordshire

Planning Permission in Bedfordshire

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, as long as the work is internal and you do not intend to enlarge the structure of your house. Garage conversions tend to be covered under permitted development rights, which protect a number of home improvement work. However, these rights have been rescinded in certain areas by councils, usually in new builds, so it's always worth verifying with your local authority. If you're planning to undertake a garage conversion on a listed building or live in a conservation area, you will need planning permission. In addition, if any of the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbour, you will require a Party Wall Agreement. You must 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 such as insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is generally a good idea to utilise an architect to draft technical drawings 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. Nearly all planning permission applications in England are approved.