Do I need planning permission for a garden office?

It’s Summer Garden Office Week

and we’re celebrating life and work outside the house.

In this sponsored post Homestead Timber Buildings answer the frequently asked question:

Do I need planning permission for a garden office?

Spring and summer are the prime seasons for garden office manufacturers, and it’s no surprise our showsite has been busy, particularly over the recent bank holiday weekends. Visitors have been viewing the beautiful garden offices on display and imagining how a similar building would work in their own garden.

Nobody wants to make an investment in a new garden room and then fall foul of the local council or their neighbours, so the first question we are usually asked is, ‘Do I need planning permission for a garden office?’

You do NOT need planning permission for a garden office if:

1. You do not build it forward of the front elevation of the house.
2. It is less than 3m high for a building with a flat roof and less than 4m high for a pitched roof.
3. Any part of it that is less than 2m away from the house is less than 2.5m high.
4. You don’t have to construct a raised platform more than 300mm high.
5. It will cover less than 50% of your garden.

However, do bear in mind that there may be other restrictions to consider if you:

1. Live in a designated conservation area.
2. Live in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
3. Your house is a listed property (considered to be of special architectural or historic interest).

We generally find that about one in three proposed garden rooms needs planning permission, and we offer a free planning application service that has achieved a 49 out of 50 success rate. In fact we offer a full refund of your deposit, and charge you no admin fees, should your application be refused.

We will check with your local authority whether you need planning permission for a garden office, to make sure you will be able to enjoy worry-free summer days in your new room.