Planning Permission in Worthing

Planning Permission in Worthing

Planning permission is a system where local authorities can agree to building works by granting permission for the planned work. Garage conversions will usually not need planning permission, as long as the work is internal and you do not intend to enlarge the structure of your house. Garage conversions are often covered under permitted development rights, which cover a number of home improvement work. However, these rights have been removed in a few areas by councils, especially in new builds, so it's 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. Furthermore, if any of the walls of your garage are shared walls with a neighbouring property, you will require a Party Wall Agreement. You will still need to comply with all building regulations related to your garage conversion whether or not you need planning permission. These building regulations cover aspects of the conversion like insulation, escape routes, fire proofing and ventilation, so it is usually a good idea to use an architect to draw up plans and 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 taken into account from the start of the project, it is much less likely that there will be any trouble further down the road. Nearly all planning permission applications in England are approved.