Period sheds

[MatthewC]

I may be out of date on this (as with everything else) but I was under the impression that a shed doesn't need Planning Consent or Building Regs, as it is classed as a temporary structure.

Planning permission is needed for a shed if it is in a conservation area.
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/outbuildings

Please, where in that link does it mention conservation areas?

That link does say that "Within the curtilage of listed buildings any outbuilding will require planning permission" - but there is no size (volume) mentioned, or a definition of what constitutes an outbuilding. A dog kennel? One of those pretty small "garden stores"? A woodstore? There must surely be some commonsense definition that allows something to be done, as opposed to a complete and utter ban on everything.

In this area the published council advice is that "conservation area consent is required for the demolition of certain buildings exceeding 115 cubic metres". That's a pretty big building (=9m x 5m x 2.5m) you can knock down without permission, but you can't replace it with a 1 cu m dog kennel? These rules really suck.

Their Listed Building planning guide just says "Examples of works that would require consent:
External: The alteration or substantial demolition of the building; altering chimneys; altering existing windows or doors; replacing windows or doors in a different design, material or finish; altering the roof pitch or covering; cladding the walls; extending the building; re-painting in a different colour which affects the character of the listed building." which certainly does not make it look as though they are much interested in sheds! It's almost as though they are saying "use your commonsense and don't tell us", but I can't believe that.

What really gets me is that for a listed building in a conservation area, you have three different sets of rules to comply with, even if Building Regs don't apply. And my local Town Council tried to tell me that I needed Building Regs approval for a small bit of repair work on a war memorial!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Zebra]

Please, where in that link does it mention conservation areas?

It's not very clear, it's the bit where it says,
"On designated land* buildings, enclosures, containers and pools at the side of properties will require planning permission."
and then underneath says,
"*Designated land includes national parks and the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites."
I think it also tries to define outbuildings, giving the description as "sheds, greenhouses and garages as well as other ancillary garden buildings such as swimming pools, ponds, sauna cabins, kennels, enclosures (including tennis courts) and many other kinds of structure for a purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse."
So yes, dog kennels! Perhaps those small garden stores. What about those wheelie bin shelters? I suppose one would have to ask the local planning department. However, if you were to put one up without permission, how likely is it that someone would complain to the council and they'd ask you to take it down?

 

[Flyfisher]

Could it be successfully argued that a woodshed is not a "structure for a purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse." but it absolutely essential for the storage of wood and garden equipment absolutely essential to the enjoyment of the dwelling house?

Seems to me that "if you were to put one up without permission, how likely is it that someone would complain to the council and they'd ask you to take it down?" is at the heart of the matter. At least a garden shed would be non-destructive and could be reversed if it really was deemed detrimental, whereas MatthewC's example of his council advice about being permitted to demolish anything smaller than 115 m3 seems perhaps a little too permissive?

Isn't there a saying about it being easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission :wink:

 

[atticman]

Not sure if the Planning regs up here in sunny Scotland are different to those in England, but the reason I needed PP was that the proposed shed was at the front of the property.

Not listed, conservation area or anything like that.

I'd have had no problem if the shed was at the back, other than having nowhere to put it without encroaching on the field at the back of the house, and the local farmer might have had something to say about that!

 

[skier-hughes]

I was told exactly the same, anything at the front of our house needed planning permission, so instead of taking down a rather bedraggled and quite ugly wood store and rebuilding some brick pillars and a tiled roof, I just put some bricks under the rotten wooden uprights to make it safe and useable.

 

[d49xc]

If at the front the issue of the building line of the street/road would come into play.
Stuff proposed to be in front of this imaginary line back from the front where the building start would be frowned upon.

 

[MatthewC]

Isn't there a saying about it being easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission :wink:

I'm thinking on the same lines as you - my house is listed Grade II and is in a conservation area but I've put up a woodstore and a shed where they can't be seen from the road, and I really don't think anyone would notice or care around here, especially as the shed has a slate roof! People here do things like use uPVC on houses in conservation areas on main roads and never get picked up, but if you put in an application then they enforce you ruthlessly.

I certainly agree with the rule about the building line although I am quite proud of a very visible eight foot long, 6ft high stone wall that I built beside the house (dividing front from back) in 2012, but at least for that I can claim (honestly) that I was rebuilding an earlier wall (albeit made of brick...); I think I achieved my aim in building something that looks totally appropriate for the house and street, so that no-one would ever bother asking!