Adding a luxury garden room to your home can completely transform the way you live. But it’s important to understand the legal guidelines, especially what the maximum size for a garden room without planning permission is.
At Hawksbeck Garden Rooms, we specialise in creating bespoke, high-quality garden rooms that usually fall under permitted development rights. In many cases, this means you won’t need to apply for planning permission at all. That said, there are a few key rules to be aware of.
Garden Room Use
It’s also worth noting that garden rooms under permitted development must be for “incidental” use. That includes uses like a yoga studio, a garden office, or an art room but not as a separate living space, bedroom, or self-contained accommodation.
Garden Room Size
When it comes to size, the structure must be single-storey, with an overall height of no more than 4 metres if it has a dual-pitched roof, or 3 metres for any other type of roof. The eaves (where the roof meets the walls) must not exceed 2.5 metres in height. And if your garden room is within 2 metres of your property boundary, the entire building must be no taller than 2.5 metres.
Garden Room Placement
Placement matters too. Your garden room must be located to the rear or side of your property – not in front of the principal elevation. If your home is in a conservation area or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), additional restrictions apply. For example, in an AONB, if your garden room is more than 20 metres from the house, it must not exceed 10 square metres to be considered permitted development.
At Hawksbeck, we work closely with each client to ensure their bespoke garden room project stays within these rules while still being functional and beautiful. For those who want something a little larger or more complex, we also offer a complete planning service, so you’re covered either way.
To give you extra peace of mind, we also recommend applying for a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC). It’s not essential, but it’s a useful document that proves your garden room was built legally under permitted development, which can help smooth the path if you ever sell your home.
Get in Touch
If you’re thinking about adding a garden room to your property and want to make sure you’re staying within the rules – or if you’re simply unsure where to begin – our expert team is here to help.
Give us a call on 01277 414 586 or send an email to info@hawksbeckgardenrooms.co.ukto start your garden room journey.
