Planning Permission in Chester Le Street

Planning Permission in Chester Le Street

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can authorise building works by giving permission for the planned work. Garage conversions will often not require planning permission, so long as the work is internal and you do not plan to expand the structure of your property. Garage conversions are usually covered under permitted development rights, which protect a number of home improvement work. However, these rights have been rescinded in some regions by local authorities, usually in new builds, therefore it is always worth verifying with your local authority. If you're thinking about undertaking a garage conversion on a listed building or live in a conservation area, you will require planning permission. In addition, if the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you must obtain a Party Wall Agreement. You must abide by all building regulations relevant to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover parts of the conversion like insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is often a good idea to utilise an architect to draft 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 taken into account from the start of the project, it is far less likely that there will be any trouble further down the line. The vast majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.