Rugged information about planning permission
Garden rooms do not usually require a planning application because they fall within permitted development rules under class E. This is a pre-approved planning permission as long as your room is built subject to certain conditions.
In the context of the range of Rugged London Outdoor Offices, the most important factors for pre-approved permission are:
1) That the development has only one storey, and is no higher than 2.5m from the bottom of the building to the top of the roof if it is within 2m of the house boundary. (The room can be up to 3m high if situated further from the house boundary). All of the Rugged London designs are less than 2.5m high, and therefore comply with this condition.
2) That you do not take up more than 50% of the area of land attached to the house (“the curtilage”) with developments (i.e. this office and any other previous developments).
3) The development is not on land forward of the wall forming the “Principal elevation.” In most cases the principal elevation will be the front part of the property; that is the part that faces the main highway serving the house. So this typically means no pre-approved permission for development in front of the house.
4) The development should be for a purpose “incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling.” This excludes separate self-contained accommodation, or an outbuilding which is used for primary living accommodation such as a bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen.
In certain circumstances a garden office space might also be open to challenge on the basis that it is not in an “incidental” relationship to the house, for instance if the space was commercially advertised as a place to meet clients.
Further guidance: This is a summary of the main factors for pre-approved planning permission for a typical garden room. Any circumstances specific to the property would also need to be considered by owners. For instance there are additional restrictions on developments on the grounds of listed buildings, national parks or in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
If in any doubt you are advised to refer to the technical guidance document produced by the government below and/or your local council. View ‘Permitted development for householders – Technical guidance’ on Gov.uk
Please note that the content on this page is no way binding and all planning permission decisions are dependent on local authorities.