The following is intended only as a guide: this is general advice and in no way exhaustive or legally binding. If in doubt, please contact us or consult a planning expert.

 

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Before undertaking any building project, please carefully consider how the building will look. Regardless of planning rules, an ugly building or even a beautiful building in the wrong place will detract from the visual appeal of your garden, could cause tension with the neighbours and ultimately devalue your home. Done right, a garden building will enhance the visual appeal of your garden and surrounding area, provide a really useful space and add value to your home.

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Planning law allows householders to erect any building required for a purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling house within the curtilage (the garden) of a house under permitted development rights Class E.

 

Good news!

 

BUT...

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There are a few rules which must be followed if you are to avoid upsetting the neighbours and don't want a visit from the council.

 

Bear with me here: planning rules can be complicated and difficult to interpret accurately but hopefully this will help you get a basic understanding of what is possible. If in doubt, just let us know and we'll do our best to explain or put you in touch with someone who can.

 

How big can my building be?

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• The total area of ground covered by buildings in the garden must not exceed 50% of the ground area of the garden. This area includes all buildings, enclosures, containers or extensions added under permitted development rights, so you need to add up the total area of all of these items and the area of your proposed garden room and make sure it does not come to more than 50% of the area of the garden.

 

• If your building is more than 15 square metres internal floor area, the outside of the building must be at least 1 metre from your boundary (fence or hedge). If your building is more than 30 square metres internal floor aream, it will need to be built to building regulations and signed off by a building inspector. This really relates to preventing the spread of fire rather than planning. 

 

• The building can only have one storey, so no upstairs!

 

• The height of the building must not exceed:​

  • 4 metres if it has a dual pitched roof  (a pointy roof - think about your classic cartoon house)

  • 2.5 metres if the building will be within 2 metres of your boundary

  • 3 metres if the the building is more than 2 metres from a boundary and has a flat or curved roof

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• In all cases the height of the eaves (the edge of the roof/top of the wall) must not exceed 2.5 metres

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• The heights are measured from the highest ground level immediately adjacent to the building.

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Where can my building go?

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• The building can be positioned anywhere behind the principle elevation of your house, so in general the back garden or at the sides of the house, provided no part of it sticks out further than the front of the house. 

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Help, looks like I can't have a garden building?!

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Don't panic. If you think you might need planning permission, you can check with the council.  There is a charge of £125 for this but it can all be done online and is a relatively painless process  (we can even do this for you).  If you do need planning permission we can provide the necessary drawings and apply on your behalf. 

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So in brief, you generally won't need planning but if you do, then we can help.