Planning Permission in Horley

Planning Permission in Horley

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 intend to enlarge the structure of your house. Garage conversions are usually protected by permitted development rights, which cover a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been taken away in certain regions by councils, usually in new builds, so it is always worth checking 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. Furthermore, if any of the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you will require a Party Wall Agreement. You will still need to 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 generally a good idea to use an architect to draw up plans and 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 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.