Find Out Why and When to Apply For Garden Planning Permission
If you’re thinking of adding in a garden shed, or paving your front garden, you may or may not need garden planning permission. Knowing the difference can save you a lot of money and hassle when you find out before installing new garden features.
Plan ahead of time
It is a good idea to have plans written out for your proposed structure. For those who are able, you are welcome to write up these plans yourself. Another option is pre-made plans, which will come with a materials list and cutting guides. You can also get a kit of pre-cut materials. These will not only help to ensure the lasting quality of your garden structure, but will also be useful when applying for a building permit. You are more likely to gain permission if clear plans have been written up already.
Sheds and greenhouses
Most sheds or similar structures won’t need a special permit to allow you to build. So long as they fit into certain guidelines, it should be fine. Usually this means that the building should not be more than 80-100 square feet, and no more than 3 meters tall. If you ask your local council ahead of time, they will be able to tell you if you will need any special permissions.
When you might need a permit
If you are planning a particularly large structure for your garden, then you may need to apply for permission to build. This also applies in cases where more than half of your garden will be taken up by outbuildings, or where the building would be too close to footpaths or roads. The local authorities should be able to advise you if there are any restrictions.
Heritage listed buildings or those in national parks or similarly protected areas will need to find out what permissions they need for building. The same goes for open plan buildings.
For those who are planning to pave your front garden or driveway, you will need permission from your council unless you’re using materials such as gravel, permeable concrete or porous asphalt. This is because large paved areas in the front garden can drastically increase the amount of rain water flowing into drains. This often leads to flooding, as public drainage systems were not designed to cope with such situations.
Check with the local authorities
Any time you’re thinking about putting a new structure into place or making significant changes to your garden, it is a good idea to check with your local council ahead of time. After all, there is nothing worse than putting in a new shed then later learning that it is unsuitable for your property, and having to tear it down again or make amendments to it.
