Planning Permission in Williton

Planning Permission in Williton

Planning permission is a system whereby local authorities can authorise building works by granting permission for the planned work. Garage conversions will often not require planning permission, so long as the work is internal and you don't intend to expand the structure of your property. Garage conversions are usually covered under permitted development rights, which cover a number of home improvement work. However, these rights have been taken away in a number of regions by councils, usually in new builds, so it's always worth checking with your local authority. If you're intending on undertaking a garage conversion on a listed building or live in a conservation area, you will require planning permission. Furthermore, if any of the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbour, you must obtain 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 generally a good idea to utilise an architect to draft plans and 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 line. Nearly all planning permission applications in England are approved.