Planning Permission in Northampton

Planning Permission in Northampton

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can consent to 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 plan to expand the structure of your house. Garage conversions are often covered under permitted development rights, which protect a number of home improvement work. However, these rights have been removed in certain areas by councils, usually in new builds, therefore it is always worth checking with your local authority. If you are intending to undertake a garage conversion on a listed building or are in a conservation area, you will need planning permission. Furthermore, if the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you must obtain a Party Wall Agreement. You are required to conform to all building regulations related to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover parts of the conversion like insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is often a good idea to utilise an architect to draw up technical drawings and 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 road. The vast majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.