What size garden building should I buy?
It may be difficult to try and visualise how your garden will look with a new building sat within it. But it’s important to consider the size before you buy. Whether you’re planning space for an office or for entertaining, an outdoor building should be big enough to evolve with your needs. It should be manageable and in proportion to the rest of your garden. To help get an idea of how your building will sit within the garden, use tent pegs to mark out its dimensions.
Business or pleasure?
There are many types of garden buildings. You’ll need to decide what you’re going to be using the building for before you start looking at the different choices in the market. A log cabin is great for entertaining or as somewhere to take time out for yourself. It creates the ideal spot to have a cup of tea and appreciate the views of your garden. A shed is the perfect solution for extra storage. Garden offices are becoming popular, as more people than ever are working from home. A greenhouse a great option for keen gardeners.
Where is the best place for my garden building?
Location is everything. You should take the time to consider the most suitable position for your garden building. Make sure it’s located in the best spot to make use of nice views and natural sunlight. Whatever the role of your garden building, remember to think about access to power, drainage and wifi.
Will I need planning permission?
The good news is that garden buildings, such as sheds, summerhouses and log cabins, are Permitted Developments. Your garden building won’t need planning permission for installation, provided you meet a few rules:
- for a building situated within 2m from the boundary of the property, its height can be no greater than 2.5m from existing ground level
- for a building situated over 2m from the boundary of the property, the height can be up to 4m
- you cannot place your garden building closer to the road than the original house itself
- you cannot use the garden building for overnight accommodation
- your garden building cannot take up more than 50% of the land surrounding the original house
You will need planning permission if:
- you intend to use your garden building as a bedroom, or
- you intend to run a business from it – as opposed to using it as an office
This is not a definitive guide. If in doubt, always check with your local planning department first.
It’s important to put your planning notes and correspondence somewhere safe, as you’ll need these if you decide to sell your house in the future.
This guest post was written by GBC Group, a retailer of quality garden and leisure buildings in the UK.