Planning Permission in East Grinstead

Planning Permission in East Grinstead

Planning permission is a system where local authorities can authorise building works by giving permission for the proposed work. Garage conversions will mostly not require planning permission, so long as the work is internal and you do not intend to enlarge the structure of the property. Garage conversions are often protected by permitted development rights, which protect a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been removed in some regions by councils, especially in new builds, so it is always worth checking with your local authority. If you're considering undertaking a garage conversion on a listed building or are 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 require a Party Wall Agreement. You must adhere to all building regulations corresponding to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover aspects of the conversion such as insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is often a good idea to use 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.