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What building regulations apply to the conservatory if I remove the door to make it open plan?
If the conservatory is not separated from the house by external quality walls, doors or windows, then it will lose its building regulations exempt status. As such it will be required to adhere to thermal efficiency rules and ventilation rules.
The new opening created from removal of the door will also need building regulations approval.
Find out more from our conservatories common project
Common Questions
If the garage will remain in domestic use - for example, as a personal hobby or home workshop - then planning permission is typically not required.
However, it’s important to check whether there are any planning conditions, covenants, or restrictions attached to your property or the garage itself that may limit or prevent conversion.
Read about planning permission for garage conversions on Planning Portal.
Yes, but this type of conversion will require full planning permission. This is because you’d be changing the use of the ground floor from residential to commercial (typically to a use class such as E), while the upper floor would remain as a residential flat (Class C3). The change of use triggers the need for planning approval.
Find out more about change of use
Approved Documents are official guides that explain how to comply with the building regulations. Published by the government, each document provides practical guidance on meeting the requirements of a specific ‘Part’ of the regulations. They cover a wide range of building work, including plumbing, electrical installations, extensions and ventilation.
The latest versions of the Approved Documents, which support the technical ‘Parts’ of the building regulations, along with Regulation 7, are available on Planning Portal.
Planning permission is unlikely to be required for the installation of external damp proofing unless the work will change the external appearance of the building or is part of a larger project.
If you live in a listed building you will need listed building consent for any significant changes, this can include external damp proofing. Additional rules may also apply if you live in a Conservation Area or other protected area.
Building regulations approval is not required for installing an external damp proof course (DPC).
The conversion of a garage, or part of a garage, into habitable space, will normally require approval under the building regulations.
As part of the garage conversion, it is likely that the original garage door will be in-filled with a new wall and possibly a window or door, and a new foundation may be needed for the new wall.
As well as the foundation, you also need to consider:
- Floor
- Walls
- Ventilation
Read more about the building regulations for garage conversions.
