Jul 01, 2024
Thinking about building a house in your garden? Great idea!
If you have the space building a house in your garden is a fantastic idea for several reasons. First and foremost, it’s an excellent way to maximize the use of your property. Instead of letting your garden space lie unused or underutilized, you can create an additional home. Whether it’s for accommodating family members, generating rental income, or providing a private retreat, the benefits will be substantial.
Financial Gains
From a financial perspective, adding a secondary dwelling can be a smart investment. Rental income from tenants or holiday lets can provide a steady stream of revenue, helping to offset the cost of construction and maintenance. Moreover, the additional living space can significantly increase the overall value of your property, making it a lucrative long-term investment.
Family Convenience
On a more personal note, building a house in your garden can address various family needs. It can serve as a comfortable and convenient home for aging parents, allowing them to stay close while maintaining their independence. Alternatively, it can be a perfect starter home for adult children who are saving to buy their own place. This setup fosters family cohesion while providing the necessary privacy and autonomy.
Flexibility and Customisation
Constructing a new house gives you the opportunity to design a space that perfectly suits your needs and preferences. From eco-friendly features to bespoke architectural designs, you have the flexibility to create a home that reflects your lifestyle and values. This personal touch can significantly enhance your living experience.
So these are all the advantages of building a house in your garden but and this is a big but depending on where you live, you’ll need to get planning permission from your local authority. Here’s a simple guide to help you through the process.
1. What’s Planning Permission All About?
Planning permission is the green light from your local council that says your building project meets all their local and also national rules. Proceed without it, and there is a high risk you might have to tear down your new house, so it’s pretty important to get this right from the start.
2. Things to Consider Before You Apply
Before diving into the paperwork, you will need to think about a few key things:
Size and Design: Your new house should fit well with the rest of the neighbourhood. Make sure it’s the right size for your garden and matches the local style.
Access and Parking: This is important. You need to plan for easy access and enough parking spaces, especially in cities.
Impact on Neighbors: Your project shouldn’t mess with your neighbour’s privacy, light, or views.
Local Planning Policies: Check out your local development plan to see what’s allowed and what’s not.
3. Getting Pre-Application Advice
Most local councils offer pre-application advice for a fee. This is a great way to get early feedback from a planning officer on whether your project is likely to be approved and what changes you might need to make.
4. Prepping Your Application
Your planning application will need a few key documents:
Application Form: Available on your local council’s website or the Planning Portal (www.planningportal.co.uk).
Site Plan, floor plans and elevations including a detailed map showing where your garden and the proposed house are.
Design and Access Statement: Explains your design choices and how you’ll handle access.
Supporting Documents: Depending on your project, you might need things like environmental impact assessments or flood risk assessments.
5. Submitting Your Application
You can submit your application online via the Planning Portal or directly to your local council. There’s a fee, which depends on your project’s size and type.
6. Public Consultation
Once you’ve submitted your application, there’s a public consultation period of about 21 days. Neighbors and other interested parties can check out your plans and give their opinions. It’s a good idea to talk to your neighbours beforehand to address any concerns they might have so a good relationship with them is important if you don’t want anyone blocking your proposals.
7. Decision Time
A planning officer will review your application, check it against local and national policies, and maybe visit the site. They’ll also consider any feedback from the public consultation. Decision in theory should take 8 weeks but this is unlikely in the UK where, unfortunately, there are very few councils meeting the lead times at present, if we can say this and mention it can take up to 5-6 months in some cases to reach a decision.
8. Possible Outcomes of Your Planning Application
Approval: If you get the green light, there might be some conditions you need to follow, like specific materials or landscaping requirements.
Refusal: If your application is denied, the reasons will be explained. You can either change your plans and try again or appeal the decision.
9. Appealing a Decision
If your application is refused, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. This process can take a while and you’ll need to make a strong case addressing the reasons for the refusal.
10. Getting Started on Construction
With planning permission in hand, you need to start building within three years. Make sure you comply with all the conditions and notify your local council before starting. Don’t forget to follow all building regulations, too.
Tips for a Successful Planning Application
The is the first stage typically involves the production of drawings to be agreed with the client and approved by the local planning department if your project requires it. Our own process is typically as follows: