Normally only if its in a conservation area or if the building is listed do you need planning permission.

I would have thought this would have formed part of your application for change of use from chapel to nursery.

Nigel - there is no change of use they are both D1 (I think) which means non-residential institutions (I think)

OK I can see doing it for insulation I understand that

Now I just need to organise a bat survey & a flood survey to ensure changing the windows don't cause the chapel to flood/become infested with bats

Hi Katy, Which council is it? Most have easy to follow Planning downloads which detail exactly what is and is not required in terms of applying for consent. I agree with Nigel and CWatters re conservation area and listing

Change of Use falls under bregs, not planning and is therefore not relevant unless you are changing use class, which you say you are not. You are correct that if there is no change of use then there is no requirement to upgrade for thermal requirements under this either. [Part L2B]

Have you considered whether you will require an Energy Performance Certificate [EPC]? You will need one if you let after October. These will rate the building A-G in terms of its energy performance. These may be expensive. See http://www.cibsecertification.co.uk/clientsenergy-certificates-the-law

Don't know, the owner is responsible for it, but they may pass on the costs to those who let- remains to be seen as this is new

Katy,

"Who pays for the EPC - me or the landlord?"

What sort of contract do you have with the landlord/owner?

If this is a leasehold then normally you need the leaseholders permission for alterations. The lease will spell out who is responsible for maintenance. Typically it's the tennant, sometimes via a residents association or similar.

If you are just renting the building and paying a market rent the landlord would pay for all structural repairs (eg new windows). If you have some kind of deal whereby you get use of the property at a discount in return for "doing it up" then be very careful. What stops him kicking you out the day after you finish spending thousands of pounds doing up his building for him? It all sounds like a very strange arrangement you have. Particularly as you have to ask who pays. The answer should be in the contract you have with him.

Posted By: CWattersMike,

"Change of Use falls under bregs, not planning"

It's very definitly a planning issue if the use class is different but I think katy said both are use class D1.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/1115314894558.html" rel="nofollow" >http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/1115314894558.html

It might also be a building regs issue as well because the regs for a nursery are likely to be different to a chapel or worship.

Yes, you are right, I do apologise. Completre brainmalfunction today [at least hopefully only today] I have building regs on the brain at the moment. In my defence, one of the triggers for Part L improvements is where there IS a Material Change of Use, and this may include upgrading windows. The change of use itself is of course a Planning issue.

EDIT So to clarify [in this instance] planning permission for change of use is not required, and neither is any Building regulation improvements [Part L] which would be triggered by such a change.

However, Part L is pretty much 'catch all' these days, and where more than 25% of thermal elements [walls/floors/roof] are touched, they will need to be upgraded.

Further improvements may also be recomended as part of the EPC paperwork

The landlord is/will be the Methodist Church

>The main issue involved is thermal performance.
Generally U-value less than 2.
Also:
Safety glass next to doors and if bottom of window is less than 800 mm above floor. Emergency egress in some situations. Ventilation.