Planning Permission in Stanford-le-hope

Planning Permission in Stanford-le-hope

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can consent to building works by giving permission for the planned work. Garage conversions will mostly not need planning permission, so long as the work is internal and you don't intend to expand the structure of your home. Garage conversions tend to be covered under permitted development rights, which protect a number of home improvement work. However, these rights have been rescinded in a number of areas by local authorities, especially in new builds, so it is always worth verifying with your local authority.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 need planning permission. Furthermore, if the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you will need a Party Wall Agreement. You must comply with all building regulations corresponding to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover aspects of the conversion such as insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is usually a good idea to work with an architect to draft technical drawings and to approve designs in order to ensure compliance with these regulations. You'll 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 majority of planning permission applications in England are approved.