Planning Permission in Hinton St George

Planning Permission in Hinton St George

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can agree to building works by granting permission for the proposed work. Garage conversions will often not need planning permission, so long as the work is internal and you do not plan to expand the structure of the property. Garage conversions are usually covered under permitted development rights, which protect a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been rescinded in certain locations by local authorities, usually in new builds, therefore it is always worth checking with your local authority. If you are 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 neighbour, you must obtain a Party Wall Agreement. You must conform to all building regulations related to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover aspects of the conversion including insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is usually a good idea to utilise an architect to draw up plans and 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 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.