Planning Permission in Croydon

Planning Permission in Croydon

Planning permission is a system where local authorities can authorise building works by granting permission for the planned work. Garage conversions will mostly not need planning permission, so long as the work is internal and you don't plan to expand the structure of your house. Garage conversions are often covered under permitted development rights, which protect a number of home improvement work. However, these rights have been removed in some regions by councils, particularly in new builds, therefore it is always worth verifying with your local authority. If you're preparing to undertake a garage conversion on a listed building or live in a conservation area, you will need planning permission. Furthermore, if the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you will need a Party Wall Agreement. You will still need to abide by all building regulations related 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 generally a good idea to use an architect to draft technical drawings and 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 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.