anyone know their planning permission tactics?

[whatcolourisyourwednesday]

Hi there,

I would like to demolish my garage but I'm not sure if I'll regret it/it will cause other issues.

would it be sensible to apply for planning permission to rebuild it (it is ancient and has an asbestos roof) before demolishing it? And if we did that, how long would the permission last? (so how long would we have to make a final decision)

thank you.

In many cases replacing a building such as a garage doesn’t require planning permission.
Many planning authorities charge for pre application advice but if you phone up and ask very nicely they will usually tell you what you need to know

thank you.

You might need pp if you are in a conservation area or AONB. So do check the local policies. You need a specialist demolition co to get rid of an asbestos building.

You can remove asbestos cement buildings yourself.

thank you.

I'm not worried about demolition - what I'm worried about is not being able to rebuild....

Is it attached or detached from the house? It might make a difference

Detached.it’s been there for ever....

Then unless there are unusual local rules it should be ok

Make sure you get plenty of photos before you knock it down showing size/context. Might not help but can’t harm your future case.

" Make sure you get plenty of photos before you knock it down showing size/context. Might not help but can’t harm your future case."

Thanks. I think that's the kind of thinking I need to do.

Or you could look at your local planning authority policies on their web site!

It’s unlikely you’d need PP to demolish it unless you’re in a conservation area or other designated area. Best to check with your local council though.

If you later get PP to build a new structure it would usually last for 3 years.

Thank you.

We’re in a conservation area.

I guess the smart move is to apply for permission knowing it will last three years then rebuild if necessary