Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and answers relating to your garden room journey.
Planning Faqs
Will my building meet building regulations?
Yes, in every case. Whether a small one man office or a large annexe building, we consider everything and where a building requires inspection and sign off (mainly with larger buildings) we deal with it for you, engaging with the council or an approved building control contractor to provide all required paperwork. There are dedicated fees for this service and we discuss these with you at all the various stages.
What if I live in a flat, can I still have a garden room?
Yes you can, but we will need to submit a planning application, flats, maisonettes and apartments do not have the same permitted development rights as houses do. This is not a problem, we have built in the grounds of many flats and will complete the full planning process for you.
Will my building require planning permission?
The majority of the time the answer is ‘No’, we generally design our buildings with this in mind and conform to all regulations, meaning your building will strictly stay within the parameters of permitted development. There are, however, times where planning permission may be required, for more detailed information please see our dedicated page to Planning information.
Will I need planning permission for a garden room?
Planning permission is not normally required as many of our buildings fall under permitted development (under 2.5m high externally). Most houses, even in conservation areas and areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) have permitted development rights.
Flats and listed buildings have no permitted development rights, so will always need planning permission.
Rest assured, if you do find that you need planning, then we provide a full Planning service and will be happy to carry this out on your behalf.
I live in a flat, will I need planning permission?
Flats and listed buildings have no permitted development rights, so will always need planning permission. Rest assured, we do offer Planning services and can carry this out on your behalf.
I live in a listed building, will I need planning permission?
Flats and listed buildings have no permitted development rights, so will always need planning permission. Rest assured, we do offer Planning services and can carry this out on your behalf.
Do you charge for carrying out the Planning Application on my behalf?
Yes, due to the increasing complexities of planning applications, we now charge a nominal administration fee on top of the Planning Application Fee and the site Map Fee.
Do you supply CAD drawings for planning permission purposes?
CAD drawings and site location plans are required for all planning applications and we include these as part of our planning service.
If you prefer to carry out your own application then we are happy to provide you with the CAD drawings of your chosen building.
My property or area has a restrictive covenant, can I still have a garden room?
Restrictive covenants set conditions in your property’s contract or deeds to restrict certain actions, normally to preserve the aesthetics of an area. These can be for a limited time only and can apply to both new and old homes.
Contact our sales team today to find out more about your particular circumstance if you have a restrictive covenant.
I live in a conservation area, do I need planning permission?
If you live in a conservation area you would need to build behind the rear elevation of your house for the garden room to fall under permitted development. If your garden room falls within permitted development rights then you should not require planning permission.
Do you supply CAD drawings for planning permission purposes?
We do. CAD drawings usually take a week to be supplied. We would ask for a deposit to secure an installation date and a quoted price. This deposit also secures your CAD drawings. This would be refundable in the event of planning being turned down.
Do I need to get planning permission?
Planning permission is not normally required as our buildings fall under permitted development (built under 2.5m high externally). Most houses, even in conservation areas and areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), have permitted development rights. Flats and listed buildings have no permitted development rights, so will always need planning permission. Don’t worry though, as planning is a relatively simple process for our garden rooms and we are on-hand to help with this process.
I live in an area with an Article 4 directive, can I have a garden room?
Yes! You will require Planning Permission in order to have a garden room on your property, but we can help with this!
If you live in an area that has an Article 4 direction, this means that your local planning authority has removed Permitted Development rights for your area. If your property does not have Permitted Development rights then we can help you with your planning application for your garden room project.
Do I need planning permission for my garden room?
In the majority of cases planning permission is not required for a typical ITTGR installation.
There are circumstances, however, where an application would need to be made. These include:
• Your room is to be erected within the grounds of a listed building, an area of outstanding natural beauty or on green belt land.
• You are using the building as accommodation.
• Your room exceeds 30 square metres.
• Your room stands taller than 4 metres once erected.
• Your room will cover more than 50% or more of your grounds.
• Your room has a maximum overall height over 2.5m and is positioned within two meters of your boundary?
• The room stands forward of the principal elevation of your house, fronting the highway?
If planning is required we will help you through this process and look after the application on your behalf.
Do I need planning permission?
Garden Rooms are considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission*, provided all the following conditions are met. At ITTGR we will work with you to make sure all the criteria is met;
• Garden Rooms must be single storey with a maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and maximum overall height of 4 metres with a dual pitched roof, or 3 metres in any other case.
• If the Garden Rooms is within 2 metres of the property boundary the whole building should not exceed 2.5 metres in height.
• You can go up to 50% of the area of all your gardens.
• The area of your garden is all your land except the part the house stands on, so the area includes the front garden, side gardens and back garden, less the area of any other buildings, fuel tanks etc.
• No buildings are to go in front of the front elevation of the house
• Conservation areas; you cannot build at the front or side, but you can place a garden room in the back garden
• Listed buildings; need full planning permission.
• Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; max size of 10sq metres at least 20 metres away from the house.
• Any new building must not itself be separate, self-contained, living accommodation and must not have a microwave antenna.
*Should your garden room need planning permission (does not meet the above criteria), we can provide a full planning service for you. From design through to submitting a planning application
Do I need planning permission for my garden room?
Our garden rooms do not need planning permission as they fall within permitted development guidelines. To be accepted as an ‘outbuilding’ under the guidelines it should not contain sleeping accommodation and should be no higher than 2.5 metres. Our garden rooms are built to comply with permitted development as long as certain criteria are met. There are a few exceptions, please see our planning permission guide for further details.
Do I need planning permission?
Take a moment to have a big cheer, because in most cases no, you don’t! Our garden rooms are normally covered by Permitted Development rules – even if your home happens to be in a conservation area or AONB. Flats and listed buildings do need planning permission, but don’t let that get your spirits down. Our in-house planning experts will submit your application, subject to an additional charge.
Do I need planning permission if I live in a conservation area?
Don’t worry. If you live in a conservation area our planning consultants will always check what needs to be done.
If my property/area has a restrictive covenant, can I still have a garden room?
Covenants restrict certain actions on your property, often with the aim of preserving the appearance of an area. They can be for a limited time or apply to both new and old homes. Contact our team to find out more about your options if you’ve got a restrictive covenant.
Can I have CAD drawings for planning permission purposes?
We can provide these, though we usually secure planning permission for you, subject to an additional cost.
Can I have a garden room if my permitted development rights have been withdrawn?
Yes but you’ll need planning permission. We can secure this for you subject to an additional charge.
Can I get a refund if planning is refused?
If it’s likely your garden room will be refused, we’ll advise you not to proceed. If planning is refused contrary to our advice, we’ll refund our planning costs but not the Local Authority application fee and any management costs accured.
My house is listed or on ‘Designated Land’ – can I still get a garden room?
If your home is a listed building, it has been rated of national importance in terms historic or architectural interest. Listed buildings feature on a register called the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/ . The rules around listed buildings, mean that any garden building or outbuilding that is to be placed within the curtilage of a listed building will require planning permission.
There are additional matters to consider if your home is located on designated land, eg. national parks, the Broads, World Heritage Sites, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and conservation areas. If your home is within a national park, World Heritage Site, the Broads or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty then you need to obtain planning permission unless the garden building is less than 10m2 and at least 20m away from any wall of your home. If your home is within a national park, World Heritage Site, the Broads, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or a conservation area, then you may not construct a garden room to the side of your home without obtaining planning permission.
Will we need planning permission?
Our studios and garden structures were designed to meet government legislation. The total height of the room is within 2.5 metres allowing the studio office to be placed in your garden using up to no more than 50% of the total available area. A threshold of 30 square metres is in place before planning is required; this has been relaxed in some areas. It can be installed at the front of your home as long as it is not forward of the principal elevation on a fronting highway. If your building requires planning permission our planning team will be happy to assist.
Listening to what our clients want is what makes us tick.
We know that choice is important to you, so we’ve brought a range of architect-designed rooms together with a variety of innovative and contemporary materials that enable you to create your own unique space. Whether you prefer a stone metal render or reclaimed timber finish there’s something for everyone in our range. Our materials and fixtures are sustainably sourced and energy efficient to create eco-friendly garden rooms that don’t ‘cost the earth’.
No matter what style of garden room you choose you can be assured that the design is backed up by our quality craftsmanship and delivered with care and attention to the very finest details by our personable and professional team.
A garden room can transform your lifestyle by expanding and enhancing the way in which you use the space you have. We want to help you make the dream a reality.
Our Clients Say
“I cannot recommend Into the Garden Room highly enough. They managed the whole project, including design, obtaining the necessary consents and the build itself expertly and professionally. The onsite team were fantastic and the quality of our garden room is excellent. It is used daily and we love it. Highly highly recommended.”
“Absolutely delighted with my garden room. It has transformed my garden and added an extra living space that is enjoyed by all my family and friends. Andy and Paul were brilliant to work with and I would highly recommend them, as not only were they professional and efficient, they were a pleasure to deal with. Thank you so much for creating my dream garden space.”
Having had our room completed last week, we cannot speak highly enough of the entire service from Into the Garden room, from the initial consultation with Paul, right through the design, planning stages and to the choices of finishes and through to the onsite build team.
When the team came to install we were was blown away by how efficient knowledgeable and helpful they were, they communicated the whole process and talked us through every stage and also were able to fully maximise the space I had and even tweaked the designs for us.
Superb advice, unbelievably hard-working and had it wrapped up in 5 weeks.
It was a significant investment however worth every penny! Highly highly recommended.
Very Pleased – We engaged with Into The Garden Room shortly after we moved house. We wanted a space where we could build an office for remote working. We contacted Paul who visited us and sent us a proposal with costings. When we were ready to commence the team turned up on time, worked hard, and were both polite and professional. The project took about 6 weeks in total, and we were left with just what we had asked for, a beautiful solution that sits perfectly at the bottom of the garden.
Into the garden room team were lovely – Into the garden room team were lovely. All through the process they were considerate and kept us informed as things went along. The delivered a fabulous garden room in the timelines that we wanted. Would recommend.
Highly recommended – Had a garden room installed by this Surrey company, and wow, the whole experience was fantastic. The project came in on time, the garden room is simply fantastic and very high quality. It has totally transformed our property. Cannot recommend this company enough.
Garden-Room/Studio – Wow O Wow what can I say.
What a great company with a great team behind them.
Very professional, thorough and honest.
We couldn’t be happier with our new Garden-room/Studio.
From the planing to the finish they have done a great job and kept us involved all they way through.
So a massive thank you to Paul, Marianne, Andy, Tony and the amazing team who helped to make our experience very special.
We were looking for a functional Garden… We were looking for a functional Garden Room that the whole family could use. A relaxing area and a room to entertain! From the first meeting, Paul gave us so many ideas, materials, colours and styles, and the whole team were fantastic. Professional, friendly and they worked incredibly hard. We now have the most beautiful room in our garden, that will be enjoyed by us all over the years ahead, Thank you!
