Do You Need Planning Permission

geoffky

I am looking at a 4bed house and its great for us but only has one reception room but has a garage built on the right hand side.if i bought it and converted the garage into another reception room would i need planning permission? thanks

busydaffodil1

the basic answer is yes. You would need to satisfy the planning dept that you have adequate parking if you remove use of the grage for parking.

Phone your local planning office. They are not all ogres.

they will probably recommend you put your query in writing.

springclean

we converted our garage into a utility room and workshop, and did not need planning permission. we did, however, need to follow building regs for a 'change of use'. Application is about £150 ish and your builder will notify the council to send an inspector down as relevant works are completed, to show they are up to code.

one thing to note, make sure you get the job signed off the council, as you will then get a certificate to say it's all done correctly. some building companies fail to do this so they don't get hit with any snagging lists they can't be bothered with!

katkim

You don't normally need planning permission to convert a garage provided that the house isn't Listed, that your house doesn't fall under an Article 4 Directive, that that there isn't a condition attached to the original planning permission that requires keeping the garage as parking space, and that the use of the room is ancillary to the house (that is, it's not going to be used as a seperate dwelling or business).

Changing the garage door to a window etc also comes under permitted development (with the exception of bay windows)

You do need Building Regs

RLH33

Katkim is spot on. Ring your local Planning Office and explain what you want to do. Most Councils now have a procedure whereby you fill in a form or write in with details of what you want to do. You send this in, there is usually a fee, and then they write back to say whether it does or does not need permission.

This may cost £30-£50 but at least you will then have a piece of paper that says you didn't need permission (if you didn't) that you can give to any potential buyers/solicitors if you were to try to sell the house in the future. It quickly answers some tricky questions. It is also useful if you were to get a complaint!!

geoffky

thank you all for your helpful replies.....:beer: