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Jizzy_Lizzy wrote in message
om...
A while ago I submitted a building control notice to convert my
attached garage into living space (Utility room and study). Shortly
afterwards I received a letter from the planning office saying that I
needed to apply for planning permission (with plans + full fee of
£220!).

At around the same time the documents came through from the solictor
(we had just bought this house) and the original planning permission
granted for the 2-storey extension that contains the garage (ground
floor Kitchen + Garage, 1st Floor Bedroom) had a condition attached to
it that the garage must remain a garage to preserve on-site parking.

What led me to believe I could convert the garage in the first place
was the presence in the locality (on my street and adjacent roads) of
other properties where similar works had been carried out.

Does anyone have any experience of dealing with planning departments /
getting conditions removed or establishing planning precedents?

Another thing I cannot understand is the that they require the full
fee for the planning permission. For £110 you could make an addition
(extension, conservatory etc) but for change of use the full rate is
levied.....why?

Thanks

It's not a change of use you'd be applyiing for (the use is still
'residential') but for a variation of the Condition (= restriction) on the
original planning permission that states th garage must stay as a garage.
The council is right to say this needs permission, but they've got the fee
wrong - the fee for this type of application is £110 - ask them to check
again and show you the relevant bit in the Fees Regs (not their own
leaflets).

These days the government (& therefore councils) are urged to reduce parking
provision (in a vain attempt to reduce car use & car ownership) and so you
should have no difficulty in getting planning permission to have the
condition lifted - the Condition was imposed in the days of diferent
government policy.

Alternative would be to go ahead without planning permission and see if they
take enforcement action (extremely unlikely - the remedy would be to make
you put the room back into use as a garage - contrary to govt policy these
days), and in any event you'd have a right of appeal (for whcih you'd have
to pay £110 to the Planning Inspectorate!) and the chances are the council's
objection would be overruled. Telling the council about local precedents
(send photos to them) whether they are authroised or not, will help you.

So long as you still have one off-street parking space or garage you should
have no problem.