Planning Permission in Hove

Planning Permission in Hove

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can agree to building works by giving permission for the proposed work. Garage conversions will mostly not need planning permission, as long as the work is internal and you don't plan to enlarge the structure of your home. Garage conversions are often covered under permitted development rights, which protect a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been taken away in some regions by local authorities, especially in new builds, so it is always worth verifying with your local authority. If you're thinking about undertaking a garage conversion on a listed building or are in a conservation area, you will require planning permission. In addition, if any of the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbour, you will require a Party Wall Agreement. You will still need to adhere to all building regulations relevant 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 technical drawings 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 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.