Permitted development in conservation

m20b25

Hi all, tricky one this. 

Reading around it seems building a shed in a conservation area of 20m2 is allowed providing it is behind the house (ie not to the side). However what does ‘not to the side’ mean? Does it count as ‘to the side’ even if it’s further back than that the back wall of the house? Or does it have to be hidden behind the houses footprint, ie when looking at house you wouldn’t see it?

Any advice greatly appreciated. Cheers

DevilDamo

Where have you got 20sq.m from?

The term ‘side’ will refer to a wall/building line that forms a side elevation. Where there is no longer a side wall, the so called building line will continue down until it meets another boundary.

m20b25

Typo, meant 30 sqm. 

Thanks for clarifying. So any shed or has to be in the shadow of the house? It cannot protrude further than the left or right (when looking from the front). Provided it’s below 2.5m in height (if within 2m of a boundary) and less than 30msq. All our neighbours have sheds to the side!

Sistergold

Good morning. I am in a conservation area(London). Some of my neighbours have sheds on the side. Some have sheds at the bottom of the garden also some summer houses at the bottom. I am quite new to the neighbourhood and being in a conservation area worries me about what I can or can not do. I have a small wooden shed at the bottom of my garden, I want to replace it with a brick much bigger shed. I asked my neighbors if I need planning permission some said I do some said I don’t! 🤔
why not make a drawing of what you want and approach your planning department or even just apply for planing permission for peace of mind? You don’t even need an architect? Planning application without an architect is not expense. In my borough it’s just over £200 that way you get to know if it’s okay? 

DevilDamo

m20b25 said:

Typo, meant 30 sqm. 

Thanks for clarifying. So any shed or has to be in the shadow of the house? It cannot protrude further than the left or right (when looking from the front). Provided it’s below 2.5m in height (if within 2m of a boundary) and less than 30msq. All our neighbours have sheds to the side!

The size of the outbuilding doesn’t have anything to do with Planning. That’s Building Regulations. There is separate exemption criteria for outbuildings and BR’s so check the Planning Portal website.

Any outbuilding you propose that is cited beyond the side wall/line of the house will require Planning. If neighbours have outbuildings to the side and are also in a Conservation Area, either they obtained Planning permission or are not aware of the different rules for CA’s.

DevilDamo

Sistergold said:

Good morning. I am in a conservation area(London). Some of my neighbours have sheds on the side. Some have sheds at the bottom of the garden also some summer houses at the bottom. I am quite new to the neighbourhood and being in a conservation area worries me about what I can or can not do. I have a small wooden shed at the bottom of my garden, I want to replace it with a brick much bigger shed. I asked my neighbors if I need planning permission some said I do some said I don’t! 🤔
why not make a drawing of what you want and approach your planning department or even just apply for planing permission for peace of mind? You don’t even need an architect? Planning application without an architect is not expense. In my borough it’s just over £200 that way you get to know if it’s okay? 

A replacement building is treated as a new build so the same Planning/PD rules would apply. Building Regulations have different exemption rules and are not interested if it’s a Conservation Area or any other ‘designated area’.

shinytop

I would agree that strictly speaking has to be behind the house and not to the side.  Having said that, I'm in a conservation area and am in the process of building a shed.  Mine is to the side and not behind the house.  However, it's behind a detached garage and can't be seen from the street.  It's also replacing an almost identical one that was there since the house was built.  I don't know if that's allowed or not but I'm not paying £200 or so to ask.  In the very unlikely event I am compelled to move it, I will; it's just a shed.    

DevilDamo

shinytop said:

I would agree that strictly speaking has to be behind the house and not to the side.  Having said that, I'm in a conservation area and am in the process of building a shed.  Mine is to the side and not behind the house.  However, it's behind a detached garage and can't be seen from the street.  It's also replacing an almost identical one that was there since the house was built.  I don't know if that's allowed or not but I'm not paying £200 or so to ask.  In the very unlikely event I am compelled to move it, I will; it's just a shed.    

Strictly speaking, that would require Planning as it’s still positioned to the side of the dwelling, irrespective if it’s behind an existing building. Even a replacement is treated as a new build.

Should you erect it and have no issues within four years of completion, you could submit a LDC application. If the works are reported to the LPA, they ‘could’ look to take enforcement action should an application not be forthcoming. But if it’s something considered more on a ‘temporary’ basis and can be easily re-positioned or removed, then that may be your preferred option.

Slinky

Sistergold said:

Good morning. I am in a conservation area(London). Some of my neighbours have sheds on the side. Some have sheds at the bottom of the garden also some summer houses at the bottom. I am quite new to the neighbourhood and being in a conservation area worries me about what I can or can not do. I have a small wooden shed at the bottom of my garden, I want to replace it with a brick much bigger shed. I asked my neighbors if I need planning permission some said I do some said I don’t! 🤔

Could it be that your street hasn't always been in a conservation area and people had sheds at the side before the area gained conservation status?

m20b25

Thanks for all the help guys. Seems that it’s only the square to the side of the house that isn’t permitted. If it’s to the side but further back than the back wall then all is well. 

DevilDamo

Having just had a look at another link, it does appear outbuildings to the side only refer to those between the side wall of a dwelling and the side boundary and not a side boundary line where the side wall of a house is no more. Interesting as it’s different for front building lines/principal elevations.