As soon as one thinks about assembling a log cabin or wooden garage, the thought of planning permission or building permit immediately comes to mind. Certainly, it is extremely important that you find about any building permits before you invest in a log cabin.
Here, we will be discussing the various planning requirements for a wooden garage that will help you understand and learn about the rules governing outbuildings. Nevertheless, consulting your local planning authority is highly recommended.
Under UK planning laws, garages are referred to as ‘outbuildings’ along with greenhouses, sheds and other outer structures. Planning permission for garages differs from property to property.
For example, if you reside in a Listed Building, you are not allowed to construct any outbuildings on the grounds surrounding your property. On the other hand, if your property is in a National Park, an area of national beauty, a world heritage site or conservation area you will need to ensure that your garage meets extra guidelines as well as some general rules.
These general rules state that you are not allowed to build the garage onto the side of your property and that garages cannot be more than 10 sq. metres in total size if the structure is more than 20 metres away from an outer wall of the property.
Generally, ‘outbuildings’ are categorized as ‘permitted developments’, which means that no planning permission would be required for a wooden garage providing you build the structure in line with the following rules:
* You should not build a garage forward of the main elevation of the original house.
* Your log cabin, along with any other outbuildings, should not take up more than 50% of the total area of land around the original property.
* You should not use a garage as a living space.
* Wooden garages should be a single storey log cabin.
* In the case of a dual pitched roof, the maximum total height of your wooden garage should be 4 metres and the maximum eaves height should be 2.5 metres. Any other type of roof should have a maximum overall height of 3 metres.
* If a log cabin is built within 2 metres of the boundary of the house, the whole garage structure should not be more than 2.5 metres high.
* The garage shouldn’t have a balcony, veranda or raised platform attached to it.
In the UK planning can’t be looked as an exact science for which some known formula is available that can provide known results. Each and every planning requirement has to be assessed independently and on its own merits. As a result, you should always check with your Local Planning Authority (LPA).
Planning for A Wooden Garage:
Log cabins or wooden garages are considered as ‘temporary structures’ and as a result don’t generally need planning approval. The same applies to some readymade or kit garages. However, you will need to observe a number of other regulations, for example, if the structure is to be nearer the road than the front of your house.
You will also have to meet the applicable building regulations, like being at least a metre from the boundary, though in general terms building regulations do not apply to detached single-storey structures situated more than a metre from the boundary. Only if they are open from at least two sides and have a floor area of not more than 30 sq. metres do wooden garages not require building regulations approval.
If your proposal meets specific size and location considerations, and have access to a drive and/or a parking space already exists, it can be considered as a ‘permitted development’. This means you won’t need to apply for planning permission for a garage unless Conservation Area or Listed Building orders affect your property.
Therefore, when considering wooden garages, it is extremely important that you not only take all the rules related to outbuildings into consideration but also make sure that you buy a log cabin that is designed and manufactured according to the regulations. Furthermore, if you have any doubts, you can easily consult your Local Planning Authority (LPA) about your outbuilding requirements and get the best possible advice.
