garage conversion

[safari]

Hi. Does anyone have experience in garage conversions? Are they easily done and is it easy to get planning permission? Thanks

[wise one]

the easiest way to find out if you would get planning permission is to look at what other people have done in your area/on your street. If there are other garage conversions on your street, it shouldn't be too much of a hastle getting planning permission. A realistic obsticle is what's on the other side of the garage? if there is another house and a window, you noght not get planning as your neighbour's right to light will be a valid objection.

[jackthehat]

There is no 'right to light' as such. Your Local Authority will take into account whether there will be an issue of 'over-looking' if new windows are let into an existing wall. This is quite easily solvable with a sensible window scheme.

Is it an integral garage or adjoined to a side wall ?

[safari]

Its an adjoining double garage and only really wanted to convert half into a spare room for visitors.

[rabbitygirl]

Not a garage conversion but we did change an attached brick built shed into a habitable room and put a loo into the old garden access area. No planning permission needed (this was two and a half years ago) but building regs.

Their main focus was on connecting the wc, insulation to all floor, walls and ceiling areas and the installation of patio doors. We did it all ourselves (except the loo). The building regs man was helpful and encouraging.

[The Builder]

Check this Govt. site out - should tell you what you need to know about Planning :o)

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/

[Jules001]

I had my garage converted into a habitable room towards the end of last year. I checked with the Council and was told that Planning Permission was not required, just Building Regs. The builders had done work like this before and it was fairly easy and painless (on my behalf) There wasn't really much mess either as they removed as much of the wall as possible from the garage side before knocking through, basically had just the wallpaper and a skim of plaster there at one stage.
In fact I am sitting in my room now typing this :)

[safari]

Cheers everyone. I reckon I will give it a go!

[Seafarer1966]

You don't need planning permission if you are carrying out the alterations within the existing structure. However, if for example you put in a bay window which protruded beyond the building line (the existing extent of built development) you may require planning permission if it is facing a road.

If your house is less than twenty years old there may also be a requirement for your property to have a minimum amount of off-road parking space. By turning garage space into living accommodation you are reducing the off-road parking area, although you could offset this by making sure there was adequate parking elsewhere within your residential curtilage (your property area including all garden land and drive etc.). A rule of thumb is two spaces for a three bed house and three spaces for a four bed house.

You will need Building Regulations consent. This is a separate council department from Planning. The Building Regs. Inspectors are concerned mainly that the alterations you make i.e. new window or door openings, are structurally sound and won't fall down. They're usually very helpful if you ring them. Most half decent builders know the score anyway about applying for Building Regs.