Planning Permission in West Midlands

Planning Permission in West Midlands

Planning permission is a system where local authorities can agree to building works by giving permission for the planned work. Garage conversions will typically 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 variety of home improvement work. However, these rights have been taken away in a few regions by councils, especially in new builds, so it's always worth verifying with your local authority. If you're intending to undertake a garage conversion on a listed building or are in a conservation area, you will require planning permission. In addition, if any of the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you will need a Party Wall Agreement. You will still need to conform to all building regulations relevant 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 generally a good idea to use an architect to draw up 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 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.