Do I Need Planning Permission For My Log Cabin
If seeing people making use of their garden log cabins and summer houses during the lockdowns of 2020 has had you thinking about planning your own log cabin retreat for 2021, you might be wondering about the legalities of it, and avoid upsetting the neighbours.
The size, height, location, and your intended use of the log cabin will determine if it needs planning permission or not. If planning consent is necessary, your neighbours would inevitably be given the opportunity to raise objections with the planners.
You are allowed to build a summerhouse or log cabin, which is referred to in permitted development legislation as an outbuilding – with a twin pitched roof up to four meters in height and no more than 2.5 metres to the eaves, or 2.5 metres with a flat roof, without needing planning permission.
However, if you were to build within two metres of your neighbours boundary, the height of the summerhouse would be restricted to 2.5 metres.
Either way, it should not take up more than half of the total plot area excluding the original footprint of your house, but this calculation should include any later additions, such as the footprint of a rear extension.
If your property is not listed but you live in a conservation area, as long as the building is sited behind the rear wall of your home it would comply with the rules.
The government guidance states that an outbuilding will only fall under the permitted development rules if the use it is intended for is a purpose incidental to a house – this means it should not be self-contained or consist of a bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen.
It would be reasonable to expect a bar would have a fridge, sink and running water to make it functional which is indeed almost like having an entire kitchen at your disposal, albeit one without any cooking facilities, as would having the facility to make a cuppa in a home office set up.
If you’re thinking of building a log cabin in the UK, visit our site for tips, guidance, advice, and much more.