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22nd September 2023
22nd September 2023
The things you can build in your back garden
At easymove, we know most of our buyers are looking to add value to their purchases, so when a prospective house comes up with a decent-sized garden, many will eye it up wondering what they could build without getting tangled up in our nightmarish planning system. There are, you’ll be pleased to hear, quite a lot of things you can do that don’t require planning permission, most of which are covered by your Permitted Development (PD) rights. These include:
PD comes with a large number of restrictions (see below) but as long as you follow the rules, you can, in theory just get on with your project. However, as it’s a complex area it would be wise, before you do anything, to check with your local planning authority and then apply for a Lawful Development Certificate, which proves your building is fully compliant. If you don’t and there is any doubt about the legitimacy of what you’ve built, it can cause serious problems when you come to sell. The good news is that a Lawful Development Certificate is relatively cheap and easy to obtain and your neighbours have very limited means to object.
Not everyone has the same PD rights – flats and maisonettes do not and, if you live in a National Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a Conservation Area or your home is listed, those rights can be removed or restricted. There is also a limit on how many changes you can make using PD. Your planned new building, along with anything that was added to the house or garden (including sheds) since 1948 must, together, not take up more than 50% of your total garden area.
PD rules vary according to what you are building but the three main categories are listed below. Bear in mind that these are rough guides only and you should always check the full details before you do anything.
Rear Garden Extensions
The main PD requirements are:
Two storey rear extensions
The main PD requirements are:
Garden offices/studios
The main PD requirements are:
Sheds, playhouses, greenhouses, garages and sauna cabins
The main PD requirements are:
Whatever you are planning on building, though, the golden rule is check with your local authority first, or you might end up wasting a lot of money and have to take it all down again.
Links:
Planning Portal
Permitted Development
Lawful Development Certificates
Prior Approval