You may have seen some horror stories about extensions and garden buildings in the media. We are talking about neighbors complaining and homeowners being ordered to tear down their new addition. This can be daunting if you are considering building a garden office and spending a lot of money on one. You may worry that this could happen to you and you waste your time and hard-earned cash.
But, you should know that this is not the case for most people. Many families are able to benefit from a garden office and encounter no problems. You just have to ensure you are respectful and do your research during the process.
So, can you build a garden office without permission? Most of the time, the answer is yes. Here is a guide to help you find out more.
Do You Need Planning Permission for a Garden Office?
There is a good reason why people say that a garden office is better than getting an extension. One of the reasons is because of the lack of planning permission. Indeed, most of the time, garden offices do not require planning permission from a local council. They are described as an outbuilding. This means that as long as you have development rights at your property, you can go ahead and install a garden office.
Are you wondering what styles of garden offices you can get? Thankfully, you can choose from many that will suit your garden. You can visit 1st Choice Leisure Building’s website to take a look or drop into their showroom. You can select a garden office building, improving your work-life balance and renovating your home simultaneously.
Of course, you should never just take our word for it without researching. Instead, double-check with your local council to see what their rules are. For example, there might be restrictions on the size you can have in your garden. It could also affect where you position the building.
Consider Your Neighbours
If you do not need planning permission, this means that you do not have to inform your neighbours of what you are doing. But, this does not mean that you should avoid doing this. Instead, it is respectful to let them know what you are installing.
You should consider the disruption a garden office could cause neighbours. Generally, if you are working on your computer, you will not be making much noise. This should not disrupt them when they are in their home. But, if you are conducting business that could be disruptive, this is when you have to consider carefully whether this is the best building for your home. For example, if you end up inconveniencing your neighbours, you can fall out. This is when a complaint could be made about you.
Always Err on the Side of Caution
Again, most of the time, you will not need planning permission for a garden office. But, you should always make sure to check. Most local councils will have information about this on their website. This will walk you through what buildings you will need permission from and what is going to be safe to start installing. You always want to ensure you have done all the research you can so that you are not going to run into problems later.
In particular, know the rules and buy a garden office that is below the requirements for permission. Here are some things that could require planning permission and to pay attention to.
The Height
Typically, there is going to be a limit on the height of the garden office you have. For example, this could be no higher than 2.5 metres. This measurement is going to be from the base of the building to the highest point on the roof. Generally, nothing that is two floors will be accepted without planning permission. But, this design is relatively uncommon anyway.
The Ground Area
Most of the time, a garden building cannot take up more than 50 per cent of your outdoor space. Thus, a garden office has to be less than this percentage when it comes to the ground area. Always ensure that you measure and do not guess. This way, you can avoid any problems in the future.
The Usage
Do not forget that you have to consider the usage of any garden building. Of course, you will be using this space for work. But, you have to ensure that you are not using it for sleeping or as guest accommodation. This changes the purpose of the building, and the latter will require permission before it can be installed.
Proximity to Neighbours
You have to consider how close your new building is going to be to the boundary you have with your neighbour. If it is very close, this might mean that you have to gain permission before it will be allowed.
