Planning permission, do I need it?
One of the questions that comes up time and time again is; Do I need planning permission to renovate my garden. The short answer is NO but there is an ‘it depends’ attached to that no.
Essentially you don’t need planning permission to erect a fence, build a patio seating area or install a new driveway or pathway but there are certain regulations that govern them.
For instance if your house and garden are listed or in a conservation area you will need planning permission, especially if you intend on modifications to the existing layout that go beyond the existing design. As a general rule there is usually some flexibility but the grounds must maintain the original character and any outbuildings and structures including a pergola, must have approval before construction. ( You could apply for retroactive planning but if you are turned down you have wasted a lot of time and money only to have to restore it to the original condition.)
When it comes to walls and outbuildings you should not require planning permission in the following instances; if the wall structure is not more than 1 metre in height, if a fence is near a road and less 2.5 metres in height, or if an outbuilding or fence is abutting the neighbour’s land ( considered to be within 2 metres of their land boundary) and less than 2.5 metres high.
By law any outbuilding or other structures can not comprise more than 50% of the available land so you may have to consider the total size of your summer house, outdoor kitchen and sheds when you are designing your garden. This does not include paved patio or seating areas only the building and structures.
Furthermore, Log cabins or Summer houses generally fall under permitted development but they must be located 5 metres from the main dwelling and must not have raised platforms balconies or verandas and be of single height with a maximum height of 4 metres including the apex or roof or 3 metres with a flat roof. However if they will include sleeping areas or the internal space is more than 15m2 then they must adhere to building regulations unless the structure is intended for agricultural use only.
Out buildings are not allowed on land in front of a wall that forms the principle elevation. In other words you can’t construct your shed or summer house beyond the edge of your property boundary and the first few feet of your property may not fall into the boundary line.
This is just meant to be a general guide to some of the basic do and don’ts when it comes to planning permission but when in doubt it is always better to seek guidance from your local council or planning permission department.
Now you have a basic idea of what you can an can’t do on your property, contact us at info@goldlandscaping.co.uk and we will be happy to discuss your landscaping requirements in detail.
