Can this garage be turned into a studio flat?

Pandilex · 1 February 2018 at 12:15PM

Garage next to my house has gone up for sale, I went to enquire and was told someone has placed an offer with a likely view of turning it into a studio flat.

The garage is only 8.1m x 3.2m internal dimensions, which to me seems way too small to be permitted to build a flat there.

Looking up my council's guidelines I was linked to national guidelines that state the minimum for a 1 bedroom residential property is 37 square metres if it has a shower, or 40 if it has a bath.

I am basically wondering if someone is gonna be allowed to build a flat next to my house squeezed in between me and the neighbour the other side of it! Any ideas?

JoJo1978 · 1 February 2018 at 12:28PM

I'm assuming that if the buyer is serious they will have already checked out if planning permission is likely before making an offer. But if this is a cash investment purchase they may also have other ideas for generating income even if a rental studio isn't an option. Where I've just moved from, simply renting out the garage as a garage would have been lucrative. If planning permission is applied for I imagine that as a near neighbour you will be given the opportunity to review and object to the plan in due course.

anselld · 1 February 2018 at 12:30PM

It seems unlikely panning would be granted. However, the space standards are advisory not mandatory so it will depend on the local planners (or the inspectors if it goes to appeal).

Doozergirl · 1 February 2018 at 2:30PM

I can't imagine it getting permission. The entire point of planning legislation is to ensure that we have good quality homes. That does not sound like a good quality home.

Pandilex · 1 February 2018 at 2:43PM

Thanks for your responses.

lincroft1710 · 1 February 2018 at 2:57PM

Is there room to extend the garage? Because if so, it could soon be within space standards. The words "shoehorn" and "sardine" can be applied to many applications approved by some planning authorities

davidmcn · 1 February 2018 at 3:27PM

Of course, just because planning permission can't be obtained doesn't mean that someone won't try to stick a tenant in there and get as much rent as they can until such time as the planners catch up with them.