If you are considering a garden room, you are not alone! Many people enjoy the benefits of an extra room, whether for a home office, hobby space, a gym or just for storage. So, do you need planning permission to have a garden room installed? Read on for all you need to know.
Planning Permission
The key factors to consider when planning for a garden room are the room’s location, size, and purpose.
Most garden rooms will not require planning permission as they are outbuildings on your own property. However, they must be built within specific rules. Firstly you must have permitted development rights. This is usually standard unless you fall into the following categories:
- You live in a listed building
- You live in a designated area such as a national park or conservation area.
- You live in a flat, apartment or maisonette.
Garden Room Rules and Requirements
To build a garden room under permitted development, you must adhere to these rules:
- The building is not in front of your property
- It must be less than four metres high if it has a dual-pitched roof, less than three metres if it has a standard roof, and less than two and a half metres high if it is within two metres of your boundary. It must also be single-storey.
- The eaves must be less than two and a half metres above ground level.
- It must not have a raised platform or balcony.
- It must not be self-contained living accommodation.
- The total area taken up by outbuildings and sheds must not exceed 50% of the total land area around your property.
Building regulations will not apply to garden rooms, as long as they are not attached to your home or used as accommodation.
If you intend to have sinks, bathrooms or showers installed in your garden room, you may need to obtain planning permission. These things will require the installation of plumping to connect the garden room to your water supply.
It is always best to discuss your garden room plans with a specialist, such as Fern Garden Rooms. Having professional advice from the planning stage through to the finished garden room will help your project run smoothly.
To find out more about the bespoke garden rooms we offer at Fern Garden Rooms, contact us on 01277 244003.