Planning Permission in Guildford

Planning Permission in Guildford

Planning permission is a system whereby 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 do not intend to expand the structure of your property. Garage conversions are often protected by permitted development rights, which cover a number of home improvement work. However, these rights have been removed in certain areas by local authorities, usually in new builds, so it's 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. In addition, if the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you will need a Party Wall Agreement. You must conform to all building regulations pertaining 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 often a good idea to use an architect to draft plans also to 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 considered 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.