Planning Permission in Chislehurst

Planning Permission in Chislehurst

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can agree to building works by granting permission for the planned work. Garage conversions will often not require planning permission, so long as the work is internal and you don't intend to enlarge the structure of your house. Garage conversions tend to be covered under permitted development rights, which protect a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been removed in a number of locations by local authorities, particularly in new builds, so it's always worth checking with your local authority. If you are considering 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 will need 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 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 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 far less likely that there will be any trouble further down the line. The vast majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.