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Highline Design & Build
Do you need planning permission for a garage conversion?
garage conversions
Our Process
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Take a look at our process below

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Do you need planning permission for a garage conversion?

If you’ve got a garage, you’ve most likely got a driveway, and it seems that these days there aren’t many of us that can be bothered to move the car from the one to the other. That’s fair enough, because whether you’re in a rush to head out to work in the morning, or you’ve just got home and all you want to do is get in and put your feet up, who wants to mess about with getting in and out of the car to open and close the garage door every time (although that’s not such an issue if you’ve got an electric door)?

What can you do with an unused garage?

The big benefit of all this is that the garage becomes open to a wide range of alternative uses. For many, that will simply be a place of storage, somewhere to dump all those bits and pieces there isn’t room for in the rest of the house.

Increasingly, however – and this has become more apparent since we were all forced to spend more time at home during lockdown – people are realising that converting your garage can provide valuable extra living space. With foundations, four walls and a roof already likely to be in place, it’s a far more cost-effective way of achieving this than an extension. In theory, all you need to do is carry out some essentially cosmetic changes to turn it into an extra bedroom, a study, a gym or even a cinema/games room.

Empty garage

Will I need planning permission to convert my garage?

If you decide that a garage conversion is the right move for you and your family, the first thing you’ll need to establish is whether you’ll need planning permission. 

The good news is that for most garage conversions, no planning permission will be required. If you’re not planning on enlarging the structure and all the works are going to be internal, your conversion will usually come under permitted development rights. There are, of course, a few exceptions where planning permission will be needed:

  • If you’re converting your garage into a self-contained living space such as a granny flat
  • If your property is a flat or maisonette
  • If your property was built or has already been converted under permitted development rights
  • If your property is in a conservation area or is a listed building

If you’re not sure whether your planned conversion will come under permitted development rights, your local council should be able to advise you.

Your local garage conversion experts

Here at Highline Design & Build, we’re the local garage conversion experts for Egham, Twickenham, Weybridge and the surrounding areas. Our conversions don’t just make your home nicer and more spacious to live in, they can also add value should you decide to sell. As well as carrying out any work, we can also provide any garage conversion planning permission advice you might need. 

If you want to make better use of your empty garage, create extra living space for you and your family or make your home more desirable for potential purchasers, we can carry out a free site survey and provide a competitive quotation for the work.

Get in touch with us now to find out more.

FAQs
How long will my project take?

Each project is different and the size of the build will determine the time it will take to complete; however, an average rear extension/loft conversion will take approximately six weeks from start to finish.

Will I be able to live in my property while the work goes on?

Yes, you will be able to live in the property. If this is the case, we will attempt to leave the breaking through into the house until as late as possible in the project.

Will someone be on site every day?

Yes, we will have someone on site every day. However, the caveat to this is if we are waiting on drying times or materials. That being said, we will endeavour to have a team member/team members present as much as possible to ensure the project is completed in a timely manner.

Will an extension add value to my property?

Absolutely, it is becoming more and more popular to add space to your existing property instead of the hassle and fees involved with moving. Adding additional square meterage can add up to 10-20% onto the market value.

Can you help with plans/designs?

Of course, we can offer suggestions and ideas, and show you previous projects. We can also arrange for you to visit a previous project if required. We have built relationships with trusted architects and can introduce you to our preferred contacts in order to obtain your drawings.

How long does it take to get planning permission?

It will depend upon whether you are applying for permitted planning or full planning permission. Different councils work to different timescales; however, as a guide from submission of plans it will take approximately 8-12 weeks.

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