Garage Conversion - Planning permission

CathyH27

Hi
I need to pick your brains.
We have an attached garage and we want to change it to a study. We are informed that we will need PP to put a window in the side wall.

We do actually want to keep the first 4 or 5 foot as a storage area and still use the the garage door for that purpose. As its a nice electric one and we own a company so need to store stuff.

But can we get around the PP somehow?

thanks in advance

Doozergirl

You'll need permission for the window if it's looking towards your neighbours. It doesn't really matter that you're keeping the front as it is.

tracy1_2

CathyH27 wrote: »

Hi
I need to pick your brains.
We have an attached garage and we want to change it to a study. We are informed that we will need PP to put a window in the side wall.

We do actually want to keep the first 4 or 5 foot as a storage area and still use the the garage door for that purpose. As its a nice electric one and we own a company so need to store stuff.

But can we get around the PP somehow?

thanks in advance

have you thought about not putting a window in - downside being no natural light but saves on the pp?

Doozergirl

Or Velux in the roof? Or those sun tunnels - I forget the proper name.

It's a bit odd not to have a window in a room though and I'm not sure building regs are keen on room without a proper escape route?

RLH33

Why do you think you need planning permission for a side window? Have the Council told you so?

Is the garage a later addition for which planning permission was granted? If so are there conditions on any planning permission for the garage/house requiring it to be retained as a garage? Or conditions that do not allow the addition of windows in a side elevation? If yes then the reason you need planning permission is that the permitted development rights on your house have been removed to exclude any rights you have to put windows in the side elevation without planning permission. It could also be that there is a condition requiring the garage to be retained as such and then you would need permission for the internal changes as well as the window as you would in effect be losing an off street parking space which Highways would probably be concerned about and may mean permission is refused.

If either of these is correct then you will need permission for the window/conversion of the garage but won't have to pay the application fee. This will mean the only cost would be to get the plans drawn up, which shouldn't be too much in the scheme of things £200-300 as they could be very simple. However before you apply for permission please check whether

It could also be because you are in a Conservation Area, if there is an Article 4 direction in place (unlikely though), in which case you will need planning permission and will need to pay the fee.

If none of the above apply I can't see why you would automatically need planning permission for a side window. Under the new permitted development rights, and the old ones for that matter, you don't need permission for a ground floor window on a side elevation.

I am afraid Doozergirl is incorrect (sorry) as there is no automatic need for planning permission for a ground floor side window regardless of whether it is looking at you neighbours or not. It is only if your pd rights have been removed for some reason.

RLH

Doozergirl

RLH33 wrote: »

I am afraid Doozergirl is incorrect (sorry) as there is no automatic need for planning permission for a ground floor side window regardless of whether it is looking at you neighbours or not. It is only if your pd rights have been removed for some reason.

RLH

Well that's nice to know, thanks!

27col

When I converted my double garage into a flat I needed Building Control but not Planning Permission. I then built a new double garage in the front garden, for which I needed Planning but not Building Control. Not quite sure how that came about.

Porky996T

In response to 27col....

When I converted my double garage into a flat I needed Building Control but not Planning Permission. I then built a new double garage in the front garden, for which I needed Planning but not Building Control. Not quite sure how that came about.

Your garage conversion needed Building Regulations in order for the conversion to meet current standards for Fire Safety, Structure, Access, Thermal Efficiency and so on, as it would become a habitable space, but as it was already built, the conversion would have been allowed under General Permitted Development and wouldn't have needed Planning Approval. Whereas the double garage is only for storing vehicles and can be built very simply and does not need the same amount of regulation as a habitable building and thus is exempt from B/Regs, however, as it is a new structure it would have needed Planning Permission.

mikey72

You may need planning permission if you intend to convert, as you are decreasing the parking spaces for the house. Fairly recent consideration, but depends on where you are, and what the area is like.

redlegbeau

has anyone had a sun tunnel fitted in their house and do they work

mcspanna

redlegbeau wrote: »

has anyone had a sun tunnel fitted in their house and do they work

I think they are actually 'sun pipes' and not seen them myself but other members of my family have seen them at a friend's house and were very impressed.

HTH