Planning Permission in Stornoway

Planning Permission in Stornoway

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can consent to building works by giving permission for the proposed work. Garage conversions will mostly not require planning permission, as long as the work is internal and you don't plan to expand the structure of your home. Garage conversions are often covered under permitted development rights, which protect a number of home improvement work. However, these rights have been taken away in some regions by local authorities, especially in new builds, therefore it is always worth verifying with your local authority. If you are preparing to undertake a garage conversion on a listed building or are in a conservation area, you will require planning permission. In addition, if the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you will need a Party Wall Agreement. You will still need to comply with all building regulations corresponding 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 usually a good idea to utilise an architect to draft technical drawings also 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 considered 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.