A garage conversion turns an integral or attached garage into a warm, habitable room by insulating the floor, walls and ceiling, replacing the garage door with a wall and window, and adding heating, lighting and finishes.
Thinking about a garage conversion in Brighton? We take charge of the whole project, co-ordinating every trade involved, and one person keeps you updated. Guide prices for the South East sit at £13,500–£31,500 including VAT, and a typical job takes 2–6 weeks on site. Your own figure depends on what the survey finds and the specification you settle on.
- Guide price
- £13,500–£31,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 2–6 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- BN1, BN2, BN3 and BN41
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Brighton and Hove
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Garage conversions prices in Brighton
The table below shows guide prices for a garage conversion in Brighton. They are based on rates in the South East, which run about 12% above the national guide, giving an overall range of £13,500–£31,500. All figures include VAT and are firmed up after a free site survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Brighton |
|---|---|---|
| Integral single garage | A garage within the house footprint, with sound walls and a roof already in place. | £11,000–£20,000 |
| Attached single garage | A garage beside the house that may need roof, wall or floor upgrades. | £15,500–£28,000 |
| Double or detached garage | A larger or separate building, often with a shower room or kitchenette. | £24,500–£50,000 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Garage type: integral, attached or detached
- Condition of the floor, walls, roof and foundations
- Whether a shower room or kitchenette is included
- Window and door choices and the level of finishes
What do you get?
- Infilling the garage door opening with insulated wall and new window
- Foundation checks under the door opening and footings where needed
- Damp-proof membrane, insulated floor and screed or raised timber floor
- Insulated walls and ceiling built to building regulations
- New internal door or opening into the house
- Electrics, heating and ventilation by qualified trades, with certificates
Homes in East Sussex
Brighton and Hove are known for Regency stucco terraces and bow-fronted houses, alongside Victorian terraces climbing the hills. Lewes and Brighton have mathematical tiles and flint walls, Eastbourne has large Victorian and Edwardian villas, and Wealden villages use tile-hanging, weatherboarding and timber frames. Interwar suburbs and newer estates fill out most towns.
Regency and Victorian houses often need sash-style windows, stucco or render repair and careful decorating. Hillside terraces suit loft conversions, and flint or brick walls commonly need repointing in lime mortar.
Knowing the typical building types in East Sussex helps, but a survey of your own home in Brighton is what decides the right approach to a garage conversion.
Planning and building rules in Brighton
Planning law differs across the UK. For a home in Brighton, it is the England rules below that count, and we check them with the council ahead of any quote.
In England, converting an attached or integral garage into a room usually needs no planning permission, unless a planning condition on your estate has removed permitted development rights (common on newer houses). Changing the garage door to a wall and window is generally fine.
Building Regulations approval is needed: foundations for the infill wall, a damp-proof course, insulation, ventilation and fire safety.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
From survey to handover
We look at the job
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for a garage conversion, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Written quote
We turn the survey notes into a written quote. The price is fixed for the specification we agree, and the document sets out materials, scope and payment stages in plain language.
Booking the work
Next comes planning the work itself. We set a start date that suits you, line up the right trades, and make sure any approvals for a garage conversion are in place before the first day on site.
On site to finish
During the work we protect the areas around it and tidy up at the end of each day. Once complete, we check the finish, remove our materials and hand over paperwork such as building control sign-off where it applies.
Why homeowners choose us
Garage conversions in Brighton: questions
Will I need building regulations approval?
A garage conversion needs building regulations approval because the space becomes a habitable room. Building control checks that the new wall in the door opening has proper foundations, that the floor has a damp-proof membrane and insulation, and that walls and ceiling meet insulation standards. Ventilation, fire safety and escape routes are also checked. In Scotland a building warrant is normally needed before work starts.
Do I need planning permission for a garage conversion?
Whether a garage conversion needs planning permission depends on the works, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you are in. In England, converting an integral or attached garage is often permitted development where changes are mostly internal, unless a planning condition has removed those rights, which is common on newer estates. We check what applies before quoting.
Can I stay at home during the work?
In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.
Will losing the garage affect parking?
Losing a garage can matter if your street has parking pressure or your property deeds or planning conditions require off-street parking. Many garages are too narrow for modern cars, so in practice the driveway often provides the parking anyway. We check for planning conditions affecting the garage before quoting. If you need extra parking, we can also price a driveway extension.
Which postcodes in Brighton do you cover?
We cover BN1, BN2, BN3 and BN41, along with the rest of East Sussex. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
Near Brighton
Live in Brighton? Our coverage takes in the BN1, BN2, BN3 and BN41 postcode areas and reaches out to Hove, Portslade and Rottingdean, so homes on the outskirts and in the next town along are included.