Garden Room Permitted Development in Wales
Updated: 13 September 2024
Reading Time: 2 minutes 34 seconds
Many garden room company websites base their Permitted Development guides on the rules outlined by England's Planning Portal. However, Wales has slightly different regulations for building garden rooms under Permitted Development.
This guide highlights the Permitted Development rules in Wales for outbuildings, as outlined on the Welsh Government website.
The Welsh Government provides a clear and well-structured explanation of the Permitted Development rules for outbuildings, which is how garden rooms are classified. In fact, we find that they present the rules in a much clearer way compared to other parts of the UK!
As with the rest of the UK, Permitted Development in Wales does not apply to flats or maisonettes. So, if you live in one and plan to build a garden room, you will need to apply for planning permission.
As the property owner, it’s your responsibility to ensure compliance with all applicable planning regulations when building a garden room. Failing to do so could result in you being required to remove all or part of the structure if it doesn’t adhere to the law. Therefore, it's important to familiarise yourself with the rules and work with a garden room designer who understands them.
This article is part of a series that explores the rules you need to consider when building a garden room.
Wales’s Permitted Development Rules for Garden Rooms
The Welsh Government makes the rules easier to understand by dividing them into two categories: Siting and Height. This simple division helps make the regulations clear.
Siting
- The total area covered by outbuildings must not exceed 50% of the curtilage.
- Outbuildings cannot be located in front of the principal elevation’s building line.
- Outbuildings cannot extend beyond the side elevation of the house if the development would be closer to a highway than the existing house or within 5 metres of the highway, whichever is nearest.
- Any part of the outbuilding within 2 metres of a boundary cannot exceed a height of 2.5 metres.
- Any part of the outbuilding within 2 metres of the house cannot exceed a height of 1.5 metres.
Source: gov.wales
Height
- Outbuildings must not exceed more than one storey.
- The height of an outbuilding must not exceed 4 metres if it has a dual-pitched or hipped roof.
- The height must not exceed 3 metres if the outbuilding has a single-pitch or other roof form.
- Flat-roofed buildings must not exceed 2.5 metres in height.
- The eaves height of the building must not exceed 2.5 metres.
If your property is in a National Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or a conservation area, the following additional restrictions apply:
- The total area covered by outbuildings situated more than 20 metres from any wall of your dwelling must not exceed 10 square metres.
- No development can take place on land between the side elevation of the house and the side boundary of your property.
Source: gov.wales
Listed Buildings
You will need to apply for planning permission for the construction of, or alterations to, any outbuildings within the curtilage of a listed building.
Source: gov.wales
If You Are Planning a Deck or Veranda, There Are Rules
It is common to extend a garden room with a deck or veranda. The Welsh Government’s Permitted Development guide also includes rules for these features:
Verandas, balconies, and raised platforms are not permitted if any part of the structure would project more than 300mm above ground level.
Source: gov.wales
If in Doubt, Seek Advice
If you're unsure whether your garden room falls under Permitted Development, it’s best to seek professional advice.
Local Authority Planning Offices offer pre-planning advice, typically for a small fee. Experienced garden room companies often have planning consultants on retainer who can provide advice on your specific situation. You can also hire an independent planning consultant.
We have a list of planning consultants who specialise in garden rooms.
