Garden
June 15th 2021
Sh-office or shed-quarters? Whatever we call it, that place you use when working from home is going to be a big part of post-pandemic life.
According to the Office for National Statistics, at the end of May 2021, 37% of employed adults in the UK had worked from home on at least one day in the previous seven.
No wonder so many people are putting a permanent home-based workplace in their garden as a comfortable long-term alternative to the dining table!
But what are the rules surrounding erecting a suitable outbuilding? In this article we’ll explain the dos and don’ts — starting with the good news: creating a garden office needn’t be complicated.
Details vary across the UK and different local authorities, but, in broad terms, sheds, summerhouses and other outbuildings are classed as permitted developments. That means you do NOT need planning permission for your garden office as long as:
Most people define the eaves’ height as the distance from the natural ground level at the base of the external wall to the lowest point at which the roof meets the outside wall. The overall height can be greater than the eaves height — up to 4 metres without requiring planning permission.
If your new garden office does not meet any of these conditions, you’ll probably need planning permission. That means contacting the local planning authority via your local council. Full details of applying for planning permission in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are available here.
The golden rule is this: only go ahead and build without planning permission if you are confident you don’t need it. Always ask the local authority for advice if there’s even the slightest doubt; it’s a lot less painful than having to demolish your new pride and joy!
Building regulations approval is entirely separate from planning permission, and you may need both. It covers the construction and extension of buildings and exists to ensure that the property is constructed to an acceptable standard.
However, building regulations approval is NOT needed for an outbuilding, such as a garden office, as long as:
“If there’s any doubt, find out” is once again the golden rule. You can find full details of applying for building regulations permission at the England and Wales Planning Portal, mygov.scot and building control Northern Ireland.
According to The Guardian, one million people put a dedicated home office in their garden even before lockdown began, and the average size was 6 square metres.
However, in many cases, basic outbuildings aren’t suitable workplaces. Nobody can perform at their best sitting in a cold and draughty hut for hours, and that’s usually the case in the winter months. But fully insulated and double-glazed sheds, huts and garden rooms can be built for as little as £6,000. You can, of course, pay far more and bask in true luxury.
The simple truth is that any home or garden improvement is likely to enhance your property’s value, and you can find out more about this in another HSS article.
But, unless you’re considering selling, your home’s actual value is as a place to enjoy living (and working). So, the best reason for choosing your new addition with care is that it will enhance your quality of life. Your garden office can double as a gym, den or hobby room, for example.
For the same reason, it’s wise to keep your garden well-maintained and stocked with beautiful plants, making it attractive to the birds and bees. You might as well make your working conditions as desirable as possible — if nothing more than to make colleagues jealous!
Need equipment to get your garden looking great? There’s no need to spend a fortune when hiring from HSS is so easy and affordable. Please take a look at our fantastic range of garden tools and landscaping equipment here. You’ll find everything from excavators to rotavators to wheelbarrows.
As Summer approaches, May comes with a range of gardening jobs that'll continue to help your outdoor area flourish. From weeding to cleaning, we have put together a list of gardening jobs you can complete in May to help with the transition of seasons.
One way to care for your soil is to try and take control of pesky weeds. Making sure you get them while they are still small will help to ensure they don’t overtake your flowers and borders and restrict the growth of other plants. Use a hoe or hand weeder tool
Using a sharp, clean pair of secateurs if you ensure to cut back and prune climbing and bush roses, they’ll stay healthy and bring strong growth in the summer. Trim winter damage from trees and shrubs, removing dead wood and shape plants to encourage healthy new growth. Cut back any remaining perennials to encourage new growth.
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