Planning Permission in Northamptonshire

Planning Permission in Northamptonshire

Planning permission is a system where local authorities can authorise building works by giving permission for the planned 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 the property. Garage conversions are usually protected by permitted development rights, which protect a variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been rescinded in certain areas by local authorities, particularly in new builds, so it is always worth verifying with your local authority. If you are planning to undertake a garage conversion on a listed building or live in a conservation area, you will require planning permission. Furthermore, if the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you will require a Party Wall Agreement. You must abide by all building regulations pertaining to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover parts of the conversion including insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is usually a good idea to use an architect to draw up plans also 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 much less likely that there will be any trouble further down the road. The vast majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.