Modern garden office positioned at the end of the garden

Garden Room Planning Application Support

We Can Prepare and Submit Your Garden Room Planning Application for £395 + VAT

Many garden rooms can be constructed without a planning application where they comply with the relevant Permitted Development rules.

However, not every garden room will qualify.

Planning permission may be required because of the size, height, position or proposed use of the building, because Permitted Development rights have been restricted, or because of the particular circumstances of the property. In England, garden outbuildings are generally considered under Class E of the householder Permitted Development rules and must satisfy a number of conditions to benefit from those rights.

Where a planning application is required, APN Garden Rooms can prepare and submit the application for £395 + VAT.

Planning Application Submission Service

The local authority's planning application fee is separate and is paid in addition to our professional fee.

The service is intended to make the planning process straightforward once you have selected your garden room design.

We can use:

your chosen APN Garden Room design
an APN design that has been adapted for your garden
the site information you provide
the proposed position of the garden room within your property

to prepare the information required for the planning submission.

When Might a Garden Room Need Planning Permission?

Planning permission may be required where the proposal falls outside Permitted Development limits.

This can include situations involving:

a garden room positioned forward of the principal elevation
excessive building height
buildings close to boundaries that exceed the relevant height limits
excessive coverage of the garden
certain properties within conservation areas or other designated land
listed buildings
properties where Permitted Development rights have been removed
flats and maisonettes
uses that go beyond normal incidental enjoyment of the house

For example, under the current Class E rules in England, a garden building within 2 metres of a boundary is limited to an overall height of 2.5 metres if it is to rely on Permitted Development. There are also limits on overall height and garden coverage.

Your Garden Room May Already Be Permitted Development

Planning permission is not automatically required simply because you are building a substantial or high quality garden room.

Many garden offices, gyms, studios and leisure rooms can potentially fall within Permitted Development where all of the relevant conditions are satisfied.

Class E covers buildings required for purposes incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse, which can include many common garden buildings. It does not extend to separate self contained residential accommodation or primary living accommodation such as a bedroom, bathroom or kitchen.

If your proposed garden room complies with the rules, a full planning application may therefore be unnecessary.

What If We Need to Adapt the Design?

Sometimes a relatively small design change can improve the planning position.

For example, we may be able to consider:

reducing the height
changing the roof
reducing the footprint
moving the building further from a boundary
changing the position within the garden
altering windows for greater privacy

If your selected garden room needs changing, our separate Adapt Your Design service is £395 + VAT.

This allows you to start with an APN design you already like and adjust it to suit your property.

Planning Permission and Garden Room Use

How the garden room will be used is important.

A garden room used as a:

home office
gym
art studio
hobby room
music room
games room
garden bar

may potentially be capable of being treated as an incidental outbuilding depending on the circumstances.

A building designed as independent residential accommodation is a different matter.

Government guidance specifically states that Class E does not cover separate self contained accommodation or normal primary residential accommodation such as a bedroom, bathroom or kitchen.

That is why the intended use should be considered at the design stage rather than after the building has been constructed.

30: The Cadence
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A highly glazed contemporary studio with an integrated outdoor relaxation area.

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31: The Veranda
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A characterful timber garden room with a deep covered veranda for year round enjoyment.

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32: The Loggia
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A light timber studio combining comfortable internal space with a sheltered outdoor room.

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Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings

Additional planning restrictions can apply to certain properties and locations.

This can include:

conservation areas
listed buildings
National Parks
National Landscapes
World Heritage Sites
properties affected by Article 4 Directions

Permitted Development rights can also have been removed by a condition attached to an earlier planning permission for the property. Government guidance recommends checking with the local planning authority where such restrictions may apply.

Where a project has additional heritage or planning complexity, we can review the requirements before proceeding.

Planning Permission Is Separate From Building Regulations

Planning permission and Building Regulations are two different systems.

Receiving planning permission does not automatically mean that Building Regulations approval is unnecessary.

Likewise, a garden room that does not require planning permission may still need to comply with Building Regulations depending on its:

size
construction
distance from boundaries
intended use
electrical installation
drainage
sanitary facilities

The government guidance expressly notes that Permitted Development rights do not remove requirements under other regimes such as Building Regulations.

APN Garden Rooms can provide additional Building Regulations support where required.

Start With Your Garden Room Design

The easiest approach is to resolve the design first.

Choose the APN Garden Room that suits your garden and decide whether you want to use it as designed or adapt it.

We can then consider whether the proposal appears capable of proceeding under Permitted Development or whether a planning application is required.

If an application is needed, you can instruct our:
Garden Room Planning Application Submission Service — £395 + VAT
The council's application fee is payable separately.

We Handle the Submission

Planning applications can feel complicated if you have never dealt with one before.

Our role is to take the design information and turn it into a properly prepared planning submission.

This means you do not have to work through the application process on your own.

Once the necessary information is available, APN Garden Rooms can prepare the submission and lodge the application with the relevant local planning authority.