Garage Conversion

[Carlnorwich]

Untitled

• Carlnorwich
• 3 Mar 2009
• 1

Untitled

• Carlnorwich
• 3 Mar 2009
• 1

I have been ready to convert my garage to another bedroom (take the doors off and install a new window) but I found out this week that the planners won't let me 'cos I live in a conversation area - and they don't like it.

So I am going to leave the garage door as it is and convert the garage anyway (without getting planning or building permission).

Hopefully the photo and drawing is self explanitary.

As I want to keep natural light entering the room I will seal the existing garage doors, build some stud and insulate, leaving the glass as it is.

I am a little worried that the room may be very cold in winter and very hot in summer as the garage door is 3" thick with single glazing.

(I will install electrics and radiators by specialist trades).

I would take care to seal all the gaps in the door and hang very thick heavy curtains to keep the heat in - hopefully this will be enough to keep it warm. But I must still have air-flow, if I install a couple of air vents will that do the job?

Will it be too hot in summer without a window to open?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[regsmyth]

Can't say I have any specific advice, other than thinking this through very carefully.
If you can't get planning permission, but still plan to do a conversion, you may run into difficulties.
But from a practical point of view, you need to consider that if it's going to be used as a bedroom, does it have a recognised fire exit?
What insulation value does the floor, ceiling and walls have?
You could build a fully glazed screen behind your doors - that would improve the insulation, but are you sure you'll never need to use those doors again?
Is it legal (or wise) to have a "bedroom" without an opening window?
You could install an extractor to deal with excessive humidity.
Would you really get heating and electrics installed if the insulation values aren't correct?
Does the council have a right to force you to undo any changes you make if they suspect an "illegal" conversion?

What aspect of the planning submission was rejected? If it was only the change to the doors, you might think your solution will resolve it. Would you re-apply?
Bear in mind, if it DID get approval, Building Control would need answers to all the other questions above.

Sorry if this seems a bit random, just my thoughts rambling.

 

[bob-the-builder]

 

[Carlnorwich]

Thanks Regsmyth - yes there's lots for me to think about.

The Council won't let me change the doors, so I was going to convert it anyway as I need the space. I will keep going back to the Council and see if we can come to an agreement. If I have to, I could have a huge window made that looks just like the exisitng door, but is actually a window with openings. That will have to come a year or two down the road when I can afford it. For the moment I would just do the inside as close to bldg regs as need be - then re-visit it.

Your points have provoked a lot of thoughts - thank you.

 

[^woody^]

Have the council removed permitted development rights to the property or locality?

Even if in a designated area, if PD rights have not been removed, then you can change the door

 

[TicklyT]

Much depends on the detail of the reasons for rejection. In a similar case the problem was an extra bedroom implied to the planners that another person would be living at the property, and that (in their eyes) meant additional parking would be needed for TWO cars (one for the car that would have been parked in the garage (despite most garages been filled with £20 worth of junk, leaving £20,000 worth of car parked in the drive) and one for a car owned by the occupant of the new bedroom).

Once we could demonstrate to their satisfaction that we could meet their additional off street car parking requirement, planning permission was granted.

 

[breezer]

i have seen garages converted into rooms quite often, from the outside they still look like garages but from the inside you would never know you were in what was a garage

 

[Carlnorwich]

Our house is semi-detached and the planners say the change would un-balance the symetry of the two houses.

I will keep going back to them and see if I can come up with a design that will satisfy them.

Thanks for your help.

 

[^woody^]

er hello

have you actually checked whether permission is required?

"Unbalancing the symmetry" of the house is AFAIK, not a valid planning consideration and would fail on appeal - therefore is not a reason for refusal.

ie you can have a window made which looks like a garage door to balance the symmetry.

It sounds like you are being given bad advice based on personal opinion and not planning policy

 

[Johnmelad502]

I think the replies so far cover this topic. The only thing I would add is if you do the conversion without permission, you could run into all sorts of problems if you ever had to sell up.