Garden Room Planning Permission VS Permitted Development

Numerous companies offer to construct projects under permitted development, but don't worry if planning permission is required. Planning isn't as daunting as it seems. It's better to determine what you truly want rather than compromise and risk building something you might regret later.

The planning portal have a fantastic guidance document on what is a Permitted Development for outbuildings. Click this link to go to the site. Whilst it may seem like a good idea to avoid planning, I would recommend getting planning done so you are not compromising on what you want or need.

The Fox Den Inn measures 6.8m in length, 4.2m in width, and 2.8m in height. It sits in close proximity to our neighbors on two boundary sides. After exploring all available options online and in local showrooms, we found that none were an exact match for the base we had already installed (drip edges are important). Luckily I picked a good number out of my head when I initially designed the garden, but I wish we spent more time planning the structure. We really did get lucky.

Dave is 190cm and most permitted development structures internally are 195-200cm at the back. He would have forever been bumping his head if we had gone for a permitted development.

So we pursued planning permission due to its proximity to neighbors and the desired internal height. I've heard of instances where people built similar structures without permission, only to have seek planning permission afterward because of complaints. In one story, a couple managed to secure the necessary planning, but if they hadn’t, their only option would have been to dismantle their build. I can't imagine the stress of constructing something only to have it torn down, or facing neighbor complaints after assuming it was a permitted development.

Securing planning permission was straightforward. Perhaps I was fortunate, but obtaining it brought great peace of mind. The Fox Den is significantly larger than most garden rooms. I go into full details of how I planned the Fox Den in this How to Plan and Build a Garden Room Step by Step. I might have felt differently if our application had been rejected, but it wasn’t. The planning team was consistently kind and helpful.

If you're concerned about submitting a full application, my local council offers a pre-planning application. A pre-application is an informal meeting with a planning officer to discuss a proposed development. It helps assess the feasibility of your ideas and suggests any changes needed to obtain planning permission. I am going to be submitting a pre planning application for our home before I go for the full application. Our extension may be a permitted development anyway! We may only need to get prior approval.

If you dream of creating an outdoor space, feel free to send photos and a brief description of what you want, or give me a call. I'm offering free advice for the next few months, based on my experience. However, I still encourage everyone to conduct thorough research and make their own decisions. I am delighted to share my opinion, but ultimately, the only opinion that truly matters is yours.