Planning permission for a garden shed?

Geminian_Dragon

Geminian_Dragon wrote: »

I am just looking for some advice on a garden shed in my garden...

I currently do not have any type of out building in the garden, it would just be a garden shed from Argos.

Q1) Do I need planning permission for a garden shed in my back garden? What about a cabin used as a work shop?

Q2) Do I need to pay £172.00 for the Planning Permission?

Q3) Do I also need to go through "Building Regulations"?


If there is anything you can add to this, please feel free to add!

~ Thanks

Hi guys, thank you for your responses.

I thought I would post for future reference; for anyone who is Googling and happens to stubble upon this post.

Is it worth just getting a wooden shed? Now, the cost would depend. The cost of clearing my garden completely (£300), digging down to build the foundation and the foundation itself (£300) would still cost £600 before considering the cost of a wooden shed or building from bricks.

You might actually find depending on the size of your shed and where you buy from, Littlewoods (on credit for example), that it would be cheaper to build out of bricks because you can find/or request reusable bricks on Gumtree, eBay and Free Cycle for next to nothing or completely free - even ask your builder if he has any spare reusable scrap materials going for free or at least 1/4 or 1/3 of the price - then you just need to pay the builder.

The total job has been roughly estimated at £1,500 with new building bricks, I think this is worth it if you are looking to create a guest house/extra bedroom for a teenager/someone with disabilities and/or rent the building out for activities (read very last paragraph for ideas). You would probably make that £1,500 back within 6-12 months depending on your activeness on advertising your space to rent.

I have been quoted £300 for 2 men to dig down 1-1.5 metres (depending on roots) - you do not need to dig down if you are building a wooden shed - and the foundation to be laid - this quote does not include deposing the dirt as I would like to keep it for raised flowerbeds in the future. My advice is to keep it, and then advise it on Gumtree, eBay and Free Cycle for free if collected.

The total cost of the actual building we are not sure of yet (from under £900, this include materials and labour) as we have planned this to be done in stages;

1) Garden cleared (March 2014):
- Highest quote - £550 (£395 for 1 week labour with 2 men and £160 for disposal)
- Professional quote - £395 (with wood chipper)
- Cheapest quote - £260 (2 unprofessional men, with no tools)
- Best offer - £300 - (will save the small trees, and dispose of the rest)

2) Foundation laid (April 2014):
- £300 quote so far (looking into others)

3) Building built (June 2014):
- Found a builder, just prefer to save and budget instead of rushing into things

Apparently, the architects I spoke with agreed that if a building already existed in the garden, which could just be a brick shell built to the standard of what you would expect of an extension, but with no doors or windows; was more likely to be accepted Planning Permission into a guest house.

I have spoken to some local architects (some with building companies attached to their companies in Birmingham) that have done "garden offices" and "workshop" projects, all said similar advice. I also checked out Planning Portal . gov . uk


1) Basically, you are allowed to build up to 15 square metres which is either 5 metres by 3 metres or 4 metres by 4 metres (can have other variations but these two examples are the most common).

2) The total height of the outbuilding must be no taller than 2.5 metres.

3) The building has to be 1 metre from any fences, any other buildings etc. all the way around. You must also have proper foundation put down into the ground and it would really help if you are using bricks, cement and mortar to start building 50cm the original ground height; especially if you are near any trees you might have to dig at least 1.5 metres down and remove any live roots due to moisture which can cause the foundation and/or building floor to swell or sink, as well as growing roots pushing the foundation and/or building floor up.

This is a problem I am going to have as I have one large tree in the back of my garden; which has to be removed as the opposite neighbour sharing the back fence of the garden has been complaining about the tree growing into their garden, causing damage to the fence for years to the previous owner(s). I also have loads of these little trees which we are going to try to save and put on Free Cycle!

These measurements are perfect for me, because I finally managed to measure my garden after it being cleared out and it's 7 metres in width (and such) by 20 metres in length.

So I decided to go for the 5 metres by 3 metres, which again, is perfect because my living room is something like 451cm by 284cm and 244cm in height, so it would roughly be that size when finished.

What really confused me was, "garden shed", when you think of that word, you think of wood and not brick. As long as you follow the measurement restrictions and have the correct foundation etc down with trees near by, a building inspector cannot demand you to demolish your outbuilding unless it was built incorrectly (bad bricklaying for example).

You can add electric and running water for a sink (workshop purposes) without permission, but do seek qualified professionals to install. Do not install a radiator.


---> So the conclusion is, you do not need Planning Permission or Building Permission and you do not need an architect to draw up the plans for a builder. You can just rely on a decent builder/building company who has experience in building extensions.



Now, if you wanted to turn your shed/workshop into commercial (business) and/or domestic (sleeping accommodation, a guest house) or simply add a toilet for example, you will need to apply for Planning Permission under "Change of Use" as well as Health and Safety Regulations; your floor must be thick enough to keep people warm for example or damp and/or mold.

Building Permission may be needed if the building inspector is not happy with the existing building.

If you are intending to have a toilet, you would have to make sure you build plumbing into your project, but not actually install a toilet for example. It would not be worth including all the pipework, just the minimal that needs to be installed in the ground or walls; especially if you have to run the pipework up the garden, this is expensive and risky of wasting time and money if your Planning Permission; Change of Use is rejected.

Apparently, the architects I spoke with agreed that if a building already existed in the garden, which could just be a brick shell built to the standard of what you would expect of an extension, but with no doors or windows; was more likely to be accepted Planning Permission into a guest house.

Installing PVC windows into your shed would suggest you built it for the purpose of a guest house without Planning Permission or Building Permission. They could even question why you have no windows or doors installed - I was advised to try and get some second hand external doors and board the window hole up, explain that it was broken and unsafe.

All you would need to do in order to make it into a guest house is PVC windows, installation, radiator, plasterboard, plaster, decoration; skirting, laminate flooring/carpet, magnolia paint, but as I have said "Building Permission may be needed if the building inspector is not happy with the existing building."


By the way, I have no intention of turning into a guest house, although I could rent the space out as a studio for small groups; mother and toddler, children's birthday parties, photography, yoga, mediation, art groups, discussion groups, counselling, teaching, the list is endless and could slightly boost your income (just don't forget to declare it and register it as a commercial business)

JournalGirl

No no and no

F_Bear

dito ditto ditto

dont buy from argos, go to a local wood merchant. or a local jail if u know any body who works there.

got mine made by the cons, only pay for the wood which is good quality. and at £7 a week labours cheap :-)

SG27

Not unless you live in a conservation area.

diywhynot

Try here...

the_matrix

Conservation area = No

All others go for it

greenface

There are size issues within planning perm and buildin regs check them |!!!! . Try to keep 600mm away from your neighbours and i think 2500 high , always remember building regs are there to prevent your neighbours from building a monster in your next door garden ,,

macman

Totally depends on the size of the 'shed'-how big is it?
Big difference between a tool shed and an outdoor workshop.

warmhands.coldheart

Just a note, AFAIK, just because it doesn't need planning permission, doesn't mean it won't have to meet some sort of building or local council regulations. They may be more to so with safety, neighbours etc. etc. etc.