Planning Permission For Your Garden Office

One of the most frequently asked questions by our customers is:

Do I need planning permission for a garden office building?

The answer in short is – generally not!

Garden offices are classed as outbuildings which can be built under your permitted development rights – and as such can be built without the need for a planning application.

Sometimes however, for a number of reasons, a planning application may still be needed.

But you don’t need to figure this out for yourself!

At your free design consultation, a member of our team will learn more about your project and let you know whether a planning application is required. What’s more, if an application is needed we can take care of the process for you – having you the time and hassle.

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Garden Offices and Planning Permission

Knowing the Rules

In England, Scotland and Wales, the majority of homes will have permitted development rights. This allows for minor development without the need to apply for planning permission. This all depends on whether you plan to inhabit the room permanently, as well as various other factors. As long as this isn’t the case, you won’t need planning or to meet building regulations.

Permitted Development Rights

If you are living in a flat, maisonette or listed building, unfortunately, you will have no permitted development rights. In some cases, an article 4 condition may be attached to houses, which may hinder the permitted development rights available. This information can easily be found within the deeds to your house or from your local council. Article 4 is often set in place to prevent further development on overdeveloped plots. Fear not though, the vast majority of homes have fully permitted development rights.

Location, Location, Location

Depending on where you live, permitted development rights may differ. If you would like your building to be built in front of your house, planning permission will always be required. Living in a conservation area, an area of outstanding national beauty or a national park will mean you’ll require planning permission. If you happen to live in an AONB or a national park, then you must build within 20m of any part of your house. You will not be able to exceed 10sqm if you are further than 20m.

Uses without Planning Permission

As previously mentioned, any building being used as permanent accommodation will require planning permission. Buildings being used for enjoyment purposes, such as gyms, art studios or kids play dens, for example, are acceptable and will not require planning.

A Helping Hand

The thought of planning should not put you off your build. Over the many years we have been building garden rooms, we have managed to help hundreds of customers obtain planning permission. If this is a process you’d rather take on yourself, we are able to provide the CAD drawings once a refundable deposit of £200 has been made. We will not charge additionally for the drawings. If you happen to change your mind, your deposit will only be refunded if planning is declined. We’d suggest letting us take care of everything for you, allowing a hassle-free process.

All in all, if you do require planning, the process is relatively simple and straight forward. Our staff are always on hand to help through any small bumps and to answer any questions you may have. Start your garden room process today but requesting your free brochure. Our brochure is filled with useful information and allows you to browse our full range of The Garden Office buildings, from the comfort of your own home. If you’re ready to take the next step, then why not book your free site survey. Here, our trained site surveyors will be able to ensure your site is suitable and assist you in designing your perfect space.

For more advice, book your free design consultation appointment today!

We would love to know more about your project and what you have in mind for your dream garden office.

A no-obligation, free of charge design consultation appointment is a great way for you to gather your ideas together and discover more about how we can help.

This appointment can be at your home or via video conference call.