Planning Permission in County Londonderry

Planning Permission in County Londonderry

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can agree to building works by giving permission for the proposed work. Garage conversions will typically not require planning permission, as long as the work is internal and you do not intend to expand the structure of your home. Garage conversions are often protected by permitted development rights, which cover a number of home improvement work. However, these rights have been taken away in a number of regions by councils, particularly in new builds, therefore it is always worth verifying with your local authority. If you're intending on undertaking a garage conversion on a listed building or are in a conservation area, you will need 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 are required to abide by all building regulations corresponding to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover aspects of the conversion like insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is generally a good idea to use an architect to draft plans and 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 taken into account from the start of the project, it is much less likely that there will be any trouble further down the line. The vast majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.