Outbuildings or garden rooms are small extensions to your home that are non-habitable but can provide extra space for daily use. They differ from annexes in that an annex is a separate sleeping area. They are great for dens for the kids or small offices, keeping the rest of your home clutter-free.
Usually, an outbuilding will be classed as a Permitted Development, so as long as it is fairly small in scope there is no need to apply for planning permission. Still, you should confirm this with your local authority.
What Can Outbuildings Be Used For?
Having an extra ‘room’ in your garden can create some extra space for activities that might be too loud or intrusive to enjoy in your home. Many people opt to erect an outbuilding as a cheaper option to a home extension that will still give them the extra space they need for their home.
Popular options for outbuildings include:
- Home offices
- Saunas
- Storage
- Plant rooms
- Dens or game rooms
- Studios
- Pool House
- Kennels
For many of these uses, you will need to have the room wired up for electricity. Insulation is useful for rooms that will be occupied in the winter.
Where Should the Garden Room Stand?
The location of any outbuilding you erect will be dictated by the size and layout of your garden building to some extent. Of course, if you want it to have electrical wiring, then positioning it near your home is easiest. It will cost more to connect it if you put it further away. You may not mind a slightly different location if you use solar power or off-grid heating.
Plant rooms with custom window boxes and planters should be close to the house. If you want to use the room as a garage, you will need to put it near a path or road for easy access.
One common recent trend is to turn micro houses into cinema rooms, giving people a space away from the main home to get away from it all. You can use rustic Western red cedar for a ‘retreat’ look and bifold doors to make the space feel bigger.
Of course, if you are going to use the room more for relaxation or to serve as a playroom for kids, it is polite to position it away from your living area or bedroom and also away from your neighbors’ homes.
Is Planning Permission Needed for Outbuildings
As long as an outbuilding serves the main house and is not a separate accommodation, building one should be possible without planning permission. You cannot build a second bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, or ‘holiday home’, and you cannot make it an annexe for a relative or teenager to live in. Ancillary use is OK, however, if the building is within your local authority’s size restrictions. It can be built under what is known as “permitted development rights,” meaning there is no need to get planning permission.
There are exceptions to this. If you want to build an outbuilding for a listed property, it does not fall under the Permitted Development idea. You will need planning permission for this, or if the property you want to expand is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a Conservation Area, or a National Park.
Your outbuilding should be at least 20m away from the main property and no more than 10m2 in size. In addition, you cannot build an outbuilding forward of the principal elevation unless you seek planning permission first.
Are there Size Limits for Outbuildings
There are a number of restrictions to what can count as an outbuilding covered under Permitted Development rights. The building must be:
- Single storey
- No taller than 3m overall or 4m overall if there is a dual-pitched roof
- Free from verandas, balconies, and raised platforms
In addition, the maximum eaves height of an outbuilding cannot be more than 2.5m, and overall, no more than 50% of your garden can be covered with buildings. This includes not just outbuildings but also sheds, etc.
Border Oak’s garden rooms include designs for garages, dens, and even slightly more ‘permanent’ extensions that could include living spaces.
Before you start work, check with your local planning department and pick up a Lawful Development Certificate. This is important to have because, if you decide to sell the property in the future, you will be asked to provide proof that the work you did was a permitted development.
Your Garden Room Designs
If you plan to build near a boundary, the building cannot be taller than 2.5m, so a flat roof design is the best choice. You can build a garden room that is taller if you are not near a boundary or if you apply for planning permission. In those cases, building something that matches the style of your home would make a lot of sense.
Note that if you cannot get an exact match, you may get something that looks similar but uses different materials. The timber-clad barn style of the garden room can complement a traditional or contemporary home, for example, and would look nice as a garage or a peaceful office. Oak makes a nice frame; timber is understated but still visually appealing and can match almost any building. If you’re interested in a garden building, you can get more information on this website.
Choosing Doors and Windows for Your Outbuilding
Your door should be positioned so that you can access the building easily, and it will not get in the way of any paths or end up knocking over any plants in the vicinity of the building. It should open in a way that maximizes the space inside the building. Windows should be positioned carefully as well since you want to ensure plenty of natural light.
Large windows are a good choice for offices, pool houses, and studios, but ensure there won’t be too much glare during the day. Think about security, too. You do not want to make the building an appealing target for thieves, and you should look for ways to balance privacy and security for maximum comfort and peace of mind. Do not get into a habit of leaving stuff in the building overnight if it is valuable.
