Planning Permission in Lightwater

Planning Permission in Lightwater

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can authorise building works by granting permission for the proposed work. Garage conversions will usually not require planning permission, as 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 cover a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been rescinded in a number of regions by councils, particularly in new builds, so it's always worth verifying with your local authority. If you're considering undertaking a garage conversion on a listed building or are in a conservation area, you will require planning permission. Furthermore, if any of the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you must obtain 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 aspects of the conversion like insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is generally 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 much less likely that there will be any trouble further down the line. The vast majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.