Garage conversion - PD or not?

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Hi

I have a 3 bed semi with a single garage next to it.

Over the years, previous owners have covered up the Lean To (3ft wide) between the house and the garage. Also doors with locks have been put to the front and back of the Lean To.

From the front it appears as if the garage is attached because the garage/lean-to front roof and gutters are attached to the main house.

I am planning to convert the garage into a gym/home office with toilet.

There is no planning restriction to keep the garage as a carport. There is also no covenants in the title deeds. The property is ex council 1950s.

Questions
1. Is this a permitted development to convert garage into gym/home office. It will require the garage door to be replaced with wall + window.

2. The Lean To has the gas meter. The Lean to itself hasn't been built over or anything except for the doors on both ends of the lean to. When building regs are done for garage conversion, will they ask me to relocate the gas meter elsewhere?

Thanks in advance
IMG_20200929_142436__01.jpg
 
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The gas meter is not covered by B regs, speak to the utilities Co.
A garage conversion is not a change of use as defined under the Building Regulations, so the B Regs applied are limited to the alterations you carry out, ie the installation of the WC, structural alterations, there may also be some Part B (fire safety) issues. Additionally Part L (thermal insulation) may apply as this is defined as a change in energy status, if the space was not previously heated and is now to include heating.

.......and cue Woody "it is a change of use as its a garage and is now a habitable space". Yet again, show me where this has ever been stipulated in any statutory instrument ever!
 
Can you please point me to the b regs article about this?
Its the actual Building Regulations (Statutory Instrument) themselves. Regulation 5 relates to the "meaning of a material change of use", for some reason the on line version hasn't been updated to include the latest amendments but these don't relate to your building in any case.
Regulation 22 relates to a change of energy status. My garage already has heating, but that's because I spray, weld, rebuild classic vehicles etc in the middle of winter, so technically even this couldn't be applied if I converted my garage.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214/contents/made
 
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The gas meter is not covered by B regs, speak to the utilities Co.
A garage conversion is not a change of use as defined under the Building Regulations, so the B Regs applied are limited to the alterations you carry out, ie the installation of the WC, structural alterations, there may also be some Part B (fire safety) issues. Additionally Part L (thermal insulation) may apply as this is defined as a change in energy status, if the space was not previously heated and is now to include heating.

.......and cue Woody "it is a change of use as its a garage and is now a habitable space". Yet again, show me where this has ever been stipulated in any statutory instrument ever!
The OP was asking about permitted development. :rolleyes:
 
Garage conversions are PD if they meet the criteria and PD rights have not been removed.

Typically, you can remove the door and fit a window as long as you fit a frame similar in style to the rest of the house frontage windows, and its not a bow or otherwise projecting frame. Infill wall needs to match the house too.
 
Since Freddy retired from front line combat it looks like Woody has found a new nemesis.

Shame really as it's rather good having a BCO on the team.
 
Pah. If they can't take the heat in the kitchen. Even if it is not a change of use kitchen according to Statutory Instrument 1001. o_O

I've taught freddie how to design roofs, and my lockdown challenge is to teach fruity how to laugh.
 

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