Using garage for prototyping business idea. Is it legal?

[Jacob]

The "business" bit is a red herring. Nobody is bothered about running a business as such. You could be turning over millions by doing computer something or other from your bedroom. What the planners would be bothered about would be "change of use" which is not defined precisely, but they aren't out to get you and you'd get plenty of chance to argue the toss.

From http://planningguidance.planningportal. ... agraph_009 :

Do I need planning permission to home work or run a business from home?
Planning permission will not normally be required to home work or run a business from home, provided that a dwelling house remains a private residence first and business second (or in planning terms, provided that a business does not result in a material change of use of a property so that it is no longer a single dwelling house). A local planning authority is responsible for deciding whether planning permission is required and will determine this on the basis of individual facts. Issues which they may consider include whether home working or a business leads to notable increases in traffic, disturbance to neighbours, abnormal noise or smells or the need for any major structural changes or major renovations.

 

[Steve Maskery]

In other words, Keep Calm and Carry On Trying To Earn A Living.
S

 

[Matt@]

The "business" bit is a red herring. Nobody is bothered about running a business as such. You could be turning over millions by doing computer something or other from your bedroom. What the planners would be bothered about would be "change of use" which is not defined precisely, but they aren't out to get you and you'd get plenty of chance to argue the toss.

I'm interested in this. You make quite a definitive statement here - is it based on personal experience of yourself or others or is it hearsay?

 

[Jacob]

The "business" bit is a red herring. Nobody is bothered about running a business as such. You could be turning over millions by doing computer something or other from your bedroom. What the planners would be bothered about would be "change of use" which is not defined precisely, but they aren't out to get you and you'd get plenty of chance to argue the toss.

I'm interested in this. You make quite a definitive statement here - is it based on personal experience of yourself or others or is it hearsay?

It's based on the official planning info which I gave a link to and quoted from. Read it, it's quite clear.

Most recently it's also based on my own experience of getting planning permission for change of use of an old chapel, against massive opposition from a neighbour from hell. And various earlier working from home scenarios which I've been involved in - starting from when we used to make toys for a living, many years ago, from the living room of a flat

 

[Matt@]

you formed an opinion based on what you'd read then, ie no personal experience . Thats all I wanted to know, many thanks....

whats with the blunt "Read it" ???!!!

 

[Matt@]

hmmm in the space of 3 minutes you've had second thoughts and edited and expanded your post

 

[Jacob]

hmmm in the space of 3 minutes you've had second thoughts and edited and expanded your post

I posted it last night 10.44. You didn't read it to the end.

 

[Beau]

If noise is the concern do a bit of of sound deadening. Some rockwool RS 60 batts in the roof of the garage would absorb a lot of noise for not much outlay.

 

[flanajb]

Keep calm and carry on it is then!

That is a rather new concept for me and will take time to get used to it