Can you do anything before applying for planning permission ?

[Heswall]

I think I want to convert my garage, plenty have done so locally but the thing is I need to do it asap.
I would want to put in the window/door where the garage door is like now, could I do this whilst we wait for the paper work or do they come around and look at each case - I cannot believe they do ?
What do you think ?

Why not give your Planning Dept a ring - lots will do pre-application advice, you may (or may not) have to pay a fee for that though.

You probably won't need planning permission at all. You don't normally need permission to convert a garage to a new room and change the door to a window - unless there is a condition on the original planning permission for the house/garage requiring the garage to be retained as a garage or for a certain number of parking spaces to be provided within the boundary of the property.

I would suggest contacting the Council first and asking them whether you need permission or not. Where I work offers a free service where you fill in a form with the details of what you want to do and we get back to you within five days or so to say whether permission is needed or not.

You may well need Building Regs though, so when you ring the planning department ask to speak to Building Control afterwards.

Oh that's good to hear.
I can't afford to do it all at once but need the access asap before I am recarpeting the front of the house, otherwise children will trash my lovely new carpets within weeks.

You do need to apply to Building Control for a garage conversion. It will cost about £300 to apply.

You will have to have either a foundation built at the front or construct a structural alternative.

You'll also have to upgrade the floor, walls and ceiling to comply with the thermal efficiency requirements of the regs and also meet damp proofing and ventilation standards.

Hth.

Thank you.

Can i make little changes, the door and a new roof before I get started do you know ?

If you mean the connecting door, yes you can do that. The roof can be replaced if it's like for like, without getting Building Control involved.

You can knock the whole thing down and start to rebuild it whilst the planning permission for an extension of the original building is still in the system (if you have enough money).

The roof is like for like, by the door I mean the up and over door being replaced by a large central door and full length windows either side.

It seems wasteful to knock it down and start again, hopefully it's cheaper to work with what you've got ?

No, the front door has to be done with the involvement of Building Control. We would have to see the excavations for the new foundation or the new lintels spanning across the opening to the existing foundations.