Do I need planning permission to convert my garage?

Planning permission is not usually required to convert your garage into additional living space for your home, providing the work is internal and does not involve enlarging the building.

However, sometimes permitted development rights have been removed by condition which may prevent a garage from being able to be converted without planning permission. This is often the case if your property is located in a housing estate. A condition attached to a planning permission may also require that the garage remain as a parking space. In such instances you will need to apply for permission to vary or remove the condition.

In cases where permitted development rights have been taken away by a condition attached to a previous planning permission, you will need to submit a planning application to vary or remove that condition. Application forms and fees can be found on the Planning Portal website. You can also download forms from the Planning Portal website. Further guidance on making an application and information needed to register an application can be found here.

With such applications, the Council may need to consider, amongst other things, whether the loss of the parking space within the garage would have a harmful impact upon highway safety.

Where work is proposed to a listed building, listed building consent may be required. You can find out if your property is a listed building here.

If you wish to know if your property has had its 'permitted development' rights for garage conversions removed you can email us. The fee for this service can be found here.