building size with out planning permision

[mitsy]

Hi can anyone tell me the max size you can build a shed with out planning permision? my neighbour is planning to building one 9' by 9' and it will also be blocking one of our windows

[Ethel]

If it's a wooden shed without foundations it should not need planning permission.

Phone your council's planning department tomorrow.

[buildersmate]

Not true, Ethel. You can actually build quite large structures in the garden without PP. Unless the house is Listed or you live in a Conservation Area or an AONB, the only constraint is the height of the shed, which must be less than 3 metres, or 4 metres if it has a ridged roof. Also he can't use the shed for commercial purposes. Also the shed must not be within 5 metres of HIS house (if it is, it is treated as an extension to the house and MAY need permission). Also no part of the shed can be nearer the public highway than the original house, unless there is still more than 20 metres from the shed to the highway. That's most of the rules that are likely to affect it. Unfortunately you don't normally have a right to either light or to a view from your windows, and planning law is more about protecting your rights not to be overlooked by new windows in a neighbour's proposed building than protecting your view. Because sheds are non-habitable buildings, any overlooking into your garden isn't considered to be an issue.

[buildersmate]

Sentence one is misleading. The point is that the wooden nature and the need for foundations don't impact neither it needs PP or not.

[jake-the-peg]

There are complications - if the shed is with a certain distance of the house (5m I think) it's deemed an extension. I think it's then limited to 10 cubic meters.

Sounds like this could be the case with your neighbours.

This is Stockton's website on it. Check with your council

http://www.stockton.gov.uk/resources/environment/planning/pp_shed_faq/

[buildersmate]

.......which is what I allude to in lines 7/8 of my reply above, Jake. You are right about the 10 cubic metres volume bit.

[jake-the-peg]

Oh yes BM sorry to re-iterate you

[housemover]

In addition to possible planning permission you also need to check your house deeds as the developers may have placed a covenant on your property requesting their consent to erections after a period of ten years of new build or such. I have just found out with my own property causing no end of problems when coming to sell!

[buildersmate]

Mitsy isn't doing the building - its the neighbour's shed that is causing the bother

[housemover]

oh yeah good point buildersmate, perhaps the neighbours wont be able to erect it due to a covenant?