Planning Permission in Castle Douglas

Planning Permission in Castle Douglas

Planning permission is a system where local authorities can consent to building works by giving permission for the planned work. Garage conversions will typically not need planning permission, so long as the work is internal and you do not intend to enlarge the structure of your house. Garage conversions are often covered under permitted development rights, which cover a number of home improvement work. However, these rights have been taken away in a number of locations by local authorities, usually in new builds, so it's always worth verifying with your local authority. If you are preparing to undertake a garage conversion on a listed building or are in a conservation area, you will require planning permission. In addition, if the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbour, you will need a Party Wall Agreement. You are required to adhere to all building regulations related 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 use an architect to draw up plans and 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 vast majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.