In the majority of cases, you won’t need to obtain planning permission when installing a garden room, but there are important considerations to be aware of, including the garden room’s size, location, and purpose.
Rockwood Garden Studios likes to keep the installation as simple and stress-free as possible for our clients – especially when it comes to planning permission for garden rooms.
We regularly get queries about it and Building Regs, so we’ve put together a brief guide that highlights how our garden studios are designed to meet government legislation.
When you install a garden room, you can benefit from extra living space and increase your home’s value.
Whether you plan to use it as a gym, home office, or music room, you won’t need to apply for planning permission – as long as the building falls under permitted development rights.
Planning Permission is asking permission from your local council or the government to carry out building work on your property. In most cases, you won’t need to worry about obtaining garden room planning permission, as the structure is usually considered to be an outbuilding.
However, the garden room must align with these requirements to fall under permitted development rights:
If the building is within 2 metres of a wall, property line, fence, or other boundary, its height mustn’t exceed 2.5 metres. However, there’s more flexibility when the building is over 2 metres from the boundary, as you can have a pitched room with a maximum height of 3 to 4 metres.
Rockwood garden studios are designed to be within the 2.5-metre height requirement, which means they can be constructed under permitted development rules without the need for Planning Permission.
Permitted development rights are in place to ensure homeowners can make minor adaptions to their properties without worrying about planning permission applications. In most cases, you won’t require planning permission for a garden room as long as it meets the above criteria.
However, the room must be “incidental” to your property – meaning you can’t use it as a bedroom or bathroom under permitted development rights.
Permitted development rights enable you to enjoy everything garden rooms have to offer, and
Garden studios do not require planning permission as they can be constructed under ‘Permitted Development Rights’ so long as they adhere to the following:
Please be aware that you will need planning permission to proceed if you live in a flat or maisonette.
In some cases, you might need to apply for planning permission when you build a garden room and understanding your responsibilities can help you enjoy a smooth process. If your garden room falls under any of the following, it won’t be eligible for permitted development:
Garden room planning rules are different for homes in protected areas, including listed buildings and conservation areas. For example, properties in National Parks, World Heritage Sites, and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty will need planning permission, regardless of the structure’s size.
Planning permission rules in protected areas usually state that the garden room must not exceed 10 square metres and should be over 20 metres from your home. You should also avoid building it to the size of your home.
When obtaining planning permission, garden rooms designed to be extra living space must usually apply.
While installing plumbing for a sink in the room is no problem, it won’t fall under permitted development rights if you plan to use it as a bedroom or guest accommodation.
If you build a garden office, it will be permitted development as long as you do not use it as a base for clients (e.g., a beauty therapy room or hair salon).
Homes located on Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) areas are also protected from permitted development guidelines due to the fragile ecosystems.
These locations are of special conservation value, and the rules are in place to preserve any special features.
It’s always a good idea to contact your Local Planning Authority (PLA) if you’re unsure of whether you need planning permission. Your council will help you locate the local planning office, where you can find out if you need to make an application.
Submitting your application through the Planning Portal usually costs around £200, but you might need to submit additional documentation, such as drawings and site plans.
Once the authority receives your application, it will enter the consultation period, which gives other parties – including your neighbours – the opportunity to express their concerns about your plans. In most cases, the entire process takes around eight weeks.
Building Regulations help ensure that new buildings are constructed safely, sustainably, and durably. Once again, you can breathe a sigh of relief, as Rockwood Garden Studios do not need Building Regulations approval.
Building Regs do not apply to garden rooms if:
A significant benefit of Rockwood’s Garden Studios non-combustible design is that it overrides the requirement that garden rooms should be built 1 metre from the boundary.
As our structures are made from substantially non-combustible materials, they can be constructed right next to the boundary fence or wall. For construction purposes, we simply need a minimum of 450mm around.
If you’re interested in building a garden room, the team at Rockwood Garden Studios shares a passion for creating good-looking, delightfully comfortable garden spaces.
Our fully insulated garden rooms are designed with your comfort as a priority. They combine high-quality contemporary and traditional materials to create unique studio spaces lasting at least 35 years. Our structures can be enjoyed at any time of the year, so you can use them like any other room in your home, and the maintenance requirements are practically zero.
If you’d like to know how we can help you or want information regarding our standard garden room prices, please contact a member of our team on 07715 516395.