Do You Need Planning Permission for a Garden Room in the UK?
Some helpful tips on how to take advantage of Permitted Development Rights when planning your Luxury Garden Room.
Do You Need Planning Permission for a Garden Room?
In many cases, a garden room can be built without a full planning application because it falls under permitted development rights. However, this depends on factors including the size and height of the building, its position within your property and how you intend to use it. Different restrictions may also apply to listed buildings, conservation areas and other designated land.
Below, we explain the key garden room planning rules to consider and when you may need to apply for planning permission.
This guidance should be read in conjunction with Schedule 2 Part 1 Class Eof the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.
Ambassador do not accept responsibility for interpretation of planning law in relation to Garden Buildings, the above points are intended to be useful and are not necessarily exhaustive. If your planned development falls outside of what can be designated as Permitted Development then we can assist you with submitting a planning application using one of our Architectural Practises that we regularly partner with.
Garden Room Permitted Development Rules:
1
Garden rooms are designated as Outbuildings meaning you wont need permission to build if you have Permitted Building Rights. Typically these rights apply to houses and not to flats or maisonettes.
2
Permitted Building rights apply to any building that is thought to be ancillary or in support of the property
3
The building should not occupy more than 50% of the land around the original property.
4
The building should not be used for overnight accommodation or commercial purposes.
5
The intended use of the building should not have the potential to cause regular and ongoing disturbances to the surrounding community.
6
Buildings that are located less than 2M from the boundary should be built to a maximum of 2.5M high.
7
Buildings that are located more than 2M from the boundary may be a maximum height of 4M if a roof gable end or 3M for all other elements of the structure.
8
Buildings that are greater than 20M from any wall of the house are restricted to 10m2 floor area.
9
The building should not forward of the principal elevation of the house.
10
In some areas of the country known as designated areas permitted development rights are more restricted for example if you live in a Conservation Area, National Park, or an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
What Happens if My Garden Room Needs Planning Permission?
If your proposed garden room falls outside permitted development rights, you may need to submit a planning application before work can begin. This could be due to factors such as the size, height or position of the garden room, or because your property is located within a conservation area or another designated location.
Needing planning permission doesn’t mean you have to abandon your plans. Ambassador Projects are here to help. Contact us for a free consultation.
Every property and project is different, so we recommend considering planning requirements early in the design process. This allows any potential restrictions to be identified and taken into account before your garden room design is finalised.
If you’re unsure whether your proposed garden room will require planning permission, speak to the Ambassador Projects team about your project and we can help you understand the next steps.