Converting a carport to garage

bazzakeegan

Back in 1985 my grandparents got planning permission to build an open sided carport, i have now bought this house and want to convert the carport to a garage/workshop. Everything will stay the same so it won't grow in size, i am just filling in the sides and putting a garage door on the front! So do i need planning permission to do this!??
Please help!?

Section62

bazzakeegan said:

Back in 1985 my grandparents got planning permission to build an open sided carport, i have now bought this house and want to convert the carport to a garage/workshop. Everything will stay the same so it won't grow in size, i am just filling in the sides and putting a garage door on the front! So do i need planning permission to do this!??
Please help!?

Probably, yes.  You'll need to check the wording of the original consent and ask the planners at your local council.  Not changing the size dosn't necessarily mean not needing planning consent - the issue is that a carport is not a garage (and vice versa), you would be changing the type of structure from one thing to another.

You should really also get some professional advice whether the roof structure is suitable for conversion to a garage. The designers may have assumed the roof would be 'open' above and below, and therefore designed the structure accordingly. Enclosing the area beneath will change the forces the roof will be subjected to, and therefore it needs checking from a structural perspective to see if any reinforcement would be needed.

bazzakeegan

I will have to dig the letter out and have a read.
I am not looking to put extra strain to the roof, the filling in of the gaps would only be wooden studwork, but i get your point and will do some question asking!
Thanks for the advice

Section62

bazzakeegan said:

I am not looking to put extra strain to the roof, the filling in of the gaps would only be wooden studwork, but i get your point and will do some question asking!

Just for clarity - my point was that by filling in the walls you potentially will be putting additional loads on the roof.  The nature and amount of load involved will depend on (amongst other things) the shape of the roof, how exposed it is, and the interaction with nearby buildings.

Bendy_House

Bazza, I think S62 is referring to things like wind loads? Eg, the roof of an open carport will be affected in different ways to that of a garage when its front door is opened, but has three enclosed sides. In the former, the roof is like a sheet in the wind. In the latter, it's potentially like the side of a balloon... Summat like that, I guess.

What do your neighbouring houses have? A selection of carports and garages? If others have garages, then most likely PP will be granted to you too.

bazzakeegan

I am on the end of my street and no one has a car port, what i failed to mention was my carport isnt like an normal plastic carport  it has 2 600mm x 600mm pillars and this is all joined to house with steels, the roof if of same roof tiles as the house and the beems are 6x2's, properly over engineered for a carport! Its is a garage with no sides! I will have print of forms and send in to council and pay them! Which i dont like!
I will try and upload a pic to help with my issue
But i thank you for taking the time to reply to me!

bazzakeegan

this it what i have, so looking at filling in sides

Bendy_House

You say no-one else has a carport, but does anyone have a garage?

That's a substantial structure right enough! I simply don't know if you would be expected to apply for PP to add sides and a door. I guess it's your choice whether to just go ahead with the chance that someone will report it and Planning could intervene, or to try and acquire PP first - with the risk they'll turn it down.

If other houses have garages, then that would surely indicate your chance of success (in either scenario)?

bazzakeegan

To build or not to build!? Most houses down the street have a garage but non on the side like mine, all the garages are set down bottom of gardens. I think if i did just do it no one would say anything, but the little voice in my head says pay the council, just incase!?

Thanks again

Martin_the_Unjust

I’d just do it, if the worst comes to it I’d be apologetic and apply for retrospective planning permission.

Section62

Martin_the_Unjust said:

I’d just do it, if the worst comes to it I’d be apologetic and apply for retrospective planning permission.

Since when did this forum become a place where people were encouraged to break the law?

The small amount of money it would cost to get confirmation from the council and/or apply for consent would eliminate the risk of having enforcement action being taken and/or having difficult questions to answer when the OP comes to sell the property.

What would you do if your application for retrospective consent was turned down?

There's money saving advice, and there's recklessness.