For the vast majority of UK homeowners, a garden room is permitted development — that means you can build it without submitting a planning application, provided the design stays within a well-defined set of rules.
In this article we'll cover the headline rules, the four common situations where planning IS required, and how our studio handles the paperwork for you when it is.
The headline rules — permitted development
- Height under 2.5 m if within 2 m of any boundary; up to 4 m with a dual-pitched roof further from boundaries
- Not in front of the principal elevation of your home
- Ancillary use only — no self-contained sleeping accommodation
- Building plus other outbuildings must not exceed 50% of the garden's area
When you WILL need planning permission
- Listed buildings — always require Listed Building Consent
- Conservation areas — additional restrictions on materials and visibility
- Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty & National Parks
- Any use as an annexe with sleeping quarters
How we handle it
During the site survey we assess your plot against the rules above and confirm in writing whether your build sits inside permitted development. If it doesn't, we prepare the drawings, submit the application, and manage the council correspondence — typically an 8-week process.