Extending your home is an exciting prospect, as it should be! The thought of having additional space that you can take advantage of is one that most homeowners would relish, whether it's for storage, a place to relax or somewhere where you can entertain your guests for hours on end. 

However, the whole process can quickly transcend into chaos if nightmare neighbours object to the plans. But can they? 

In this blog, we take a closer look at if it is possible for neighbours to object to home extensions such as garden rooms and what you can do about it, hopefully providing you with some peace of mind if you plan on extending your home with a stylish new garden room.

Adding a garden room to your property 

If you want to make minor changes to your property here in the UK, it's perfectly acceptable to do so without applying for planning permission. Putting up walls and fences, for example, is classed as part of your 'permitted development rights'. 

In October 2008, permitted development rights were extended so that they cover more building projects. This means that the work that can now be carried out on your property without having to apply for permission includes:

• Laying patios and driveways 
• Roof alterations 
• Conservatories 
• Home extensions 

However, some of the work such as conservatories and extensions will have to comply with certain regulations that take into account the dimensions and position of the structure.

When it comes to garden rooms more specifically, planning permission is not required if they fall within the permitted development guidelines. 

Within these guidelines, your garden room will classify as an 'outbuilding' and must not contain sleeping accommodation and must be single-storey with a maximum eaves height of 2.5m.

Garden rooms and planning permission 

To be safe when it comes to your garden room and planning permission, there are a few things that you must keep in mind. These are:

1. Maximum Height - As mentioned above the eaves height would be limited to 2.5m. The maximum overall height depends on the roof shape – four metres for a dual pitch and three metres for any other type. However, if the building is within two metres of a boundary, the overall maximum height is restricted to 2.5m.
   
   
2. Footprint - If you or any previous owners of your property have extended your home since 1948, your permitted development allowance may have been used. Overall, you are not allowed to build on more than half the land associated with the house without full planning permission.
   
   
3. Location - Your garden room must not be located forward of the main front wall of the original house. The original house means as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948.

Do Garden Rooms Need Planning Permission?

What about your neighbours?

As long as you're not required to apply for planning permission, your neighbours are not entitled to object to your garden room plans. However, if you are required to apply for planning permission, your neighbours will be notified and they will be given the right to object. 

Despite your neighbours not being able to object to your garden room if it falls under your permitted development rights, we recommend still letting them know that you plan on adding one to your property before work begins for the sake of good relations and so they can see that it won't have a negative impact on their home. 

Click below to be taken to our planning applications page where you can find more information regarding your garden room and planning permission.

Planning Advice from SunSpaces >

So, to conclude, when it comes to your garden room and your neighbours objecting, they will only be able to do so if you are not within your permitted development rights and have to apply for planning permission. If you are then they cannot object to any plans that you have. 

If you require more information, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of the SunSpaces team today - we'd be more than happy to help with any questions that you may have.