Permitted Development Outbuildings - Oct. 1st 2008.

Outbuildings are categorised as most detached structures that are deemed to be of an ancillary use to the main dwelling and wholly located within the residential curtilage of the domestic single use dwelling. Permitted development for outbuildings also have a wide range of height and size restrictions.

Permitted Development for outbuildings are also affected by the sites zoning such as Listed Building, Conservation Area, National Park and an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) which can severely restrict the siting and location on a permitted development outbuilding.

This website contains much information on permitted development for outbuildings and you are advised to seek guidance elsewhere within this web site for the applicable restrictions affecting permitted development for out buildings.

Generally speaking, the new criteria under the permitted development for PD of outbuildings that came into force on October 1^st 2008 is rather generous compared to the previous planning permitted development legislation especially with regard to what you can now erect in Article 1(5) land being conservation areas and areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). Before, October 1^st 2008, this article 1(5) site zoning would simply remove all rights under the old Class ‘E’ of the GPDO to installing a detached garden building of any significant size. Now, they (the legislators on planning) seem to want to simply restrict the siting of the building within 20M of the existing wall of the dwelling house for AONB and not between the side wall & side boundary of the existing dwelling house for a Conservation Area.

A maximum height of 4M to the ridge for a dual pitched roof and 3M for a flat roof (or any other roof) still applies as before but there is also a new eaves height restriction of not exceeding 2.5M and the eaves are not to be located within 2M of a boundary.

Download a pdf guide for Permitted Development Outbuildings...

 guidance on permitted development out buildings

As always, you are advised to obtain professional drawings completed by a Building Designer which can be used as part of a formal Certificate of Lawful Development application to the Council that will formally and legally confirm that your project is indeed permitted development.

Many of the detached garden structures erected as permitted development outbuildings are many thousands of pounds which you risk having to remove if your scheme falls outside of the very tight criteria for PD outbuildings so do not take chances & seek a professional opinion first prior to order.