Home extensions are the way to go in today’s market, what with rising house prices and interest rates. Homeowners will find installing a ground floor extension in London far more cost-efficient and secure than the long process of moving property. At Home Tales, we recognise the need for additional space, especially for growing households in such a densely populated city. We provide our clients with excellent design packages for projects such as internal refurbishments, loft conversions, and ground floor extensions.

Naturally, we have come across all types of home improvement ideas through our work, with some of our clients dead set on a garage conversion. For those that are no longer in need of sheltered parking, this could be a great solution for creating additional living space without extending a property. It could immediately add value to a home.

Although internal works may not require drastic changes to the exterior of the property, a garage could still need some extensive work to be converted. Some examples include properly insulating the roof if there is no room above it, insulating the walls, and installing heating. Without these changes, your garage conversion is susceptible to becoming a cold bridge that would cause rapid heat loss.

When you don’t need permission

Planning permission is typically not required for a garage conversion as it will likely come under Permitted Development Rights. This is a pre-existing permission granted directly by the government rather than your local planning authority. If your project falls under permitted development rights, you can count yourself lucky as you can proceed without applying for planning permission. However, this is all dependent on the type of project you are undertaking and your local planning authority.

Carrying out internal works, such as adding floor area to an existing living or dining space, should fall under PD rights as you would not be adding extra rooms or making major changes to the property’s exterior. In general, no matter where you live, as long as you are only carrying out internal works (with no impact on the exterior) and you own the property, you will probably not need planning permission.

If you will be increasing the volume of your garage or making any external changes, there is a greater chance you will need planning permission. Furthermore, converting a garage into a separate accommodation with its own amenities will likely need planning permission no matter how small the changes will be.

When you do need permission

Although most garage conversions will not need planning permission, 10% will need full planning due to special circumstances. This is entirely up to your local planning authority, as they can introduce restrictions to protect the area. Sometimes planning permission is required for a garage conversion if your property is part of a new development, housing estate, in a Conservation Area, or if the garage is detached from the main house.

When converting a garage to accommodate an extra bedroom, study, or bathroom, you may need approval. This could be in the form of full planning permission or obtaining prior approval, as some local authorities are more lenient than others.

If your home is a new build, it’s important to check that your initial agreement from the purchase does not state that the garage mustn’t be converted for X number of years. Usually this is in place to retain the number of parking spaces available to said house. Furthermore, the council could have interest in whether the loss of parking will impact highway safety, so they could advise you to submit for prior approval.

In housing estates or areas that have enforced an Article 4 Direction, most Permitted Development Rights are stripped away. This means any type of external change to your home, even a garage conversion, would need planning permission.

A lot of the time, homeowners like to err on the side of caution by seeking prior approval even if the project may clearly seem permitted under their existing rights. We would always recommend seeking prior approval when carrying out works. If building control/ your local authority find that your new build is unlawful, they can order you to demolish the whole build. This would be a waste of your time, energy, and money, so it’s best to avoid this scenario at all costs.

If you are looking for a reputable architectural firm that will help in your home renovation process, look no further. Our lovely team of professionals would love to hear from you on 02070432378or through email at hello@hometale.co.uk. Alternatively, why not book in a free telephone consultation? This is a no-obligations discussion in which you can discuss the details of your project and receive an accurate quote for the works. Click here to view our live diary and set up a time.