Planning applications - free plans and elevation drawings

• Our planning service is available for any customer who wants to buy one of our buildings.
• Plans and elevation drawings of the proposed building are prepared to the correct scale as required for planning applications.
• The drawings we supply are suitable for planning applications submitted to any local authority in England, Scotland or Wales.
• The drawings we supply are suitable for planning applications for a listed building or a property within a conservation area.
• The prices include an initial consultation with you to confirm the type and size of the proposed garden building plus other details of the design and the materials used.
• Lean to buildings such as conservatories or lean to greenhouses are more expensive because extra drawings are required to show the proposed new lean to building superimposed over the existing dwelling.
• Our prices do not include supplying site location plans or site layout plans
• Our prices do not include completing the relevant planning application forms, ownership certificates and declarations.
• Our prices do not include the planning application fee which is payable to your local district council.

Your payment is refunded in full

When you order your garden building from us all charges will be allowed in full as a credit against the overall cost of your building. For example, if you pay �60 for drawings of a freestanding building you will receive a credit of �60. When you order your building the overall price will be reduced by �60 and your drawings are therefore completely free.

Building regulations

Our planning service does not include applying for approval under the building regulations or, in Scotland, applying for a building warrant. The majority of freestanding garden buildings do not require approval under the building regulations. However, approval is required for any garden building with an internal floor area of more than 30 square metres, for example a building which is larger than 20' x 16'6" or 6m x 5m. Please note that the building regulations apply to any garden building with an internal floor area in excess of 30 square metres whether it is temporary or permanent including summerhouses, sheds, greenhouses, conservatories, gazebos, garages and carports. The majority of conservatories do not require approval under the building regulations. However, approval is required for any conservatory with an internal floor area of more than 30 square metres. Approval is also required if there is no door between the conservatory and the dwelling or if a heating system is installed in your conservatory which does not include separate controls.

Planning requirements for garden buildings

• The majority of garden buildings do not require planning permission.
• Planning permission is required for any building which covers over half the garden.
• Planning permission is required for any building which is not for domestic use.
• Planning permission is required for any pent roof building which is over 3 metres high.
• Planning permission is required for any apex roof building which is over 4 metres high.
• Planning permission is required for any apex roof building which is higher than the main dwelling.
• Larger garden buildings which are within 2 metres of a boundary and over 2.5m high (8'2") require planning permission. Some larger garden buildings with apex or hipped roof designs may be over 2.5m high. Buildings with a pent roof are normally less than 2.5m high.
• If required many of our apex and hipped roof buildings can be made with a lower roof height less than 2.5m high.
• Planning permission may also be required for any building which is nearer to a public highway than the original dwelling unless it is at least 20m from the highway.
• For planning purposes a public highway includes any road or footpath with a public right of way.
• For planning purposes outbuildings within 5 metres of a dwelling are considered to be extensions.
• For planning purposes extensions and outbuildings built prior to June 1948 are considered to be part of the original dwelling.
• Permitted development rights allow householders to add extensions or outbuildings within 5 metres of the house without the need to obtain planning consent, subject to restrictions. For most detached and semi detached houses the permitted development rights are 70 cubic metres which is about the same as a small double garage. For town houses and terraced houses the permitted development rights are only 50 cubic metres. For a few larger houses permitted development rights may be over 70 cubic metres. Even the largest dwellings are subject to a maximum for permitted development rights of 115 cubic metres.
• Permitted development rights are often suspended in high density housing estates, city centres and areas of outstanding natural beauty.
• Permitted development rights may not apply to houses in a conservation area or listed buildings.
• If you live in a conservation area or a listed building permission may be required for any garden building over 10 cubic metres, which is the size of a typical 6x8 shed or greenhouse.
• If you demolish an old building any replacement is considered as a new building even if it is similar in size and appearance.
• Planning regulations apply to any building whether temporary or permanent including summerhouses, sheds, greenhouses, conservatories, gazebos, garages and carports.
• This brief summary is not intended to be a comprehensive guide. Please contact us for further advice or contact your local planning authority.