At Miniature Manors, we understand that planning permission can seem daunting when planning, designing and constructing a garden room for your property. However, we are here to take all the stress and unease away.
When you consult with us for your garden room project, our friendly and transparent experts manage the entire planning permission process on your behalf. From the initial planning assessments to the final touches post-installation, we strive to ensure a smooth journey from start to finish.
We do understand that peace of mind is vital, and you may want to confirm whether your garden room project requires planning permission before work gets underway.
Most garden rooms in the UK fall under ‘Permitted Development Rights’, which means that planning permission is not required, provided that your project meets the following conditions.
The building:
• Is a single storey building with a maximum eaves height of 2.5m
• Possesses an overall height that doesn’t exceed 4m with a dual-pitched roof or 3m for any other roof type
• Is at least 2m from any boundary (if over 2.5m high)
• Doesn’t take up more than 50% of the land around the original house
• Is not in the front garden
• Is not installed in the garden of a listed building or a property in a designated area
• Is for incidental use (home office, gym, hobby room, etc.)
If your garden room meets the above criteria, it will be considered a permitted development and therefore, in most instances, you will not need to apply for planning permission.
If the above conditions are not met, the architectural design specialists at Miniature Manors will handle your planning application for you.
We will get involved in the following circumstances:
• You live in a maisonette or flat (as in our case study below)
• Your property is a Grade I or II listed building
• You live in a conservation area, national park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• The design requires an external height exceeding 2.5 metres
• The garden room will be used commercially or as liveable accommodation
• Your permitted development rights have been removed (through Article 4 directions)
• The garden room exceeds permitted development size limitations
With our 100% success rate in securing planning permission, we offer:
• Complete end-to-end management, providing peace of mind and reassurance
• Real-world experience with planning authorities and offices across Sussex, Surrey, and Kent
• The flexibility to adapt project specifications to meet planning criteria without compromising design vision
• Adherence to all necessary UK Building Regulations as well as planning permission rules
• The preparation and submission of all necessary paperwork, drawings, and approvals
Located in an unused space in the front garden of our client’s flat, Miniature Manors successfully secured planning permission for this stylish modern garden office. Our client had ownership of the front garden where this was built, whilst his neighbour has ownership of the rear garden. Despite shared access – a situation which always requires planning permission – our expertise ensured quick and timely approval of the necessary paperwork, followed by an efficient and professional installation process.
The 4.35m x 2m office features 1.8m patio doors and a full-height window, flooding the space with an abundance of natural light. Fully insulated for year-round use and clad in low-maintenance James Hardie Weatherboard in ‘Heathered Moss’, this garden room is the perfect blend of aesthetic charm and practical convenience for our client.
Planning permission was required for this show stopping garden room build for two reasons. Firstly, the building would be used as an occasional guest space with a contemporary bathroom and custom-built plywood bunk bed. As the design reached 4 metres at its highest point, but the building sat close to the boundaries, we also needed to seek permission for the proposed height of the structure.
Our team achieved permission for both aspects of the build, offering our clients the practical space they needed as well as the bold pitched roof design that they desired. Seeking permission for design aspects can often pay off when the result is a beautiful, unique space like this.
If you’re looking for garden annex inspiration, look no further than this garden granny annex in Surrey. Sitting at 8.7 metres by 4.4 metres, this project is a home away from home with a fully equipped kitchen and shower room. Our expert planning team managed the entire planning process for our clients, working with local planning officers to quickly obtain permission.
As part of achieving planning permission, annexes must be built to meet building regulations. This allows the structure to be fit for day to day use and overnight stays. We carefully selected materials and controlled design elements on this build to achieve a building control sign off. This will always be required when achieving planning permission.
If you’re considering a garden room, exploring your options, or need clarity on planning permission requirements, our team of friendly, experienced designers will guide you through every step.
If you’d like a friendly initial chat regarding your project and whether planning permission is required, please feel free to call us on 01403 610619. Alternatively, book a free, no-obligation garden room site survey and consultation today and let’s see how we can take the stress of planning permission away, giving you room to focus on what matters.
