Building a garden room is a great way to create a new space in your home that can be used for a variety of purposes. It can be used as a home office, a place to relax and entertain friends, or a space to practice yoga or meditation. Building a garden room can also increase the value of your home and make it more attractive to potential buyers. Additionally, having a garden room can reduce your energy costs since it will keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Most garden rooms and offices don’t require planning permission. They are classed as outbuildings, so you’re allowed to build one as long as you comply with certain rules.

Provided you have permitted development rights, you don’t need planning permission to build a garden room.

Reasoons you may not have permitted development rights

• Your home is a listed building
• Your home is in a designated area (eg a National Park, area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), conservation area or World Heritage Site)

What size Garden room can I build?

• They must be under 2.5m in height
• They must not cover over 50% of the land surrounding the house
• They must not be built at the front or side of the house

You should also consider these additional factors

• It doesn’t have a balcony, veranda or raised platform.
• It isn’t self-contained living accommodation.
• The eaves are no more than 2.5 metres above ground level.

Where can I build my garden room?

Obviously, a garden room is intended for the garden. However, to avoid applying for planning permission, it’s best that this be kept to the back garden. Permitted development rights do not permit you to place one at the front or side of your house. Even in the back garden, it must not be closer to a public right of way (a road or a footpath) than it is to the property.