The majority of log cabin installations need no planning permission. However, please find below a checklist from Copperwood log cabins to help you decide if you need planning permission or not.
This type of building is an outbuilding and is classified as “Permitted Development” and usually should not require planning permission.
Outbuildings can include; sheds, garages, greenhouses, accomodation for pets and domestic animals, summer houses, swimming pools, ponds, sauna cabins and enclosures
You will need to apply for planning permission if any of the following cases apply on the land around your house.
- More than half the area of land around the "original house" would be covered by additions or other buildings.
- The building or structure is not to be used for domestic purposes and is to be used instead, for example, for parking a commercial vehicle, running a business or for storing goods in connection with a business.
- You want to put up a building or structure which would be nearer to any highway than the nearest part of the "original house", unless there would be at least 20 metres between the new building and any highway. The term "highway" includes public roads, footpaths, bridleways and byways.
- You want to put up a building or structure which is more than 3 metres high, or more than 4 metres high if it has a ridged roof. (Measure from the highest ground next to it.)
- If your house is a listed building, and you want to put up a building or structure with a volume of more than 10 cubic metres.
- If you live in a Conservation Area, a National Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or the Broads, and you want to put up a building or structure with a volume of more than 10 cubic metres (though it might be allowable as an extension)
The term "original house" means the house as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948 (if it was built before that date). Although you may not have built an extension to the house, a previous owner may have done so.
NB: in all cases, if your new building would have a volume over 10 cubic metres, and come within 5 metres of the house, it would be treated as an extension. Also, if your new extension would bring some existing garden building within 5 metres of the (extended) house, that existing building's volume could be deducted from your overall volume entitlement for the house, as if it were another extension.
For guidance on calculating the volume of a building or extension, please refer to the link below;
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/1115311947796.html
Local planning conditions may prevail and it is always best to contact your local planning office for clarification.
Refer to the planning guidelines published by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Section B deals with buildings in your garden.
Note that for buildings in excess of 30m2 you may require building regulations approval. Please check with your local Planning Office. In some cases, a Legal Development Certificate may be granted.
Building Regulations
If you want to put up small detached buildings such as a garden shed or summerhouse in your garden, building regulations will not normally apply if the floor area of the building is less than 15 square metres.
If the floor area of the building is between 15 square metres and 30 square metres, you will not normally be required to apply for building regulations approval providing that the building is either at least one metre from any boundary or it is constructed of substantially non-combustible materials.
In both cases, building regulations do not apply ONLY if the building does not contain any sleeping accommodation.
Copperwood Log Cabins Disclaimer
This is a guide and is not a definitive source of legal information. If you are in any doubt you should contact your local planning authority before undertaking any work.
For building regulations unless you have a reasonable working knowledge of building construction it would be advisable before any work is started to obtain appropriate professional advice which is relevant to the building work you want to carry out (e.g. from an architect, a structural engineer, a building surveyor, a heating engineer or replacement window specialist) and to choose a registered builder, or a registered installer, to carry out the work.
Please follow the link to the Government planning portal for planning guidance;
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/1102425564249.html
or;
