Planning Permission for a Greenhouse?

When it comes to planning permission for greenhouses, they are covered by the same rules governing outbuildings and ancillary garden buildings.

Under new regulations that came into effect on 1 October 2008 outbuildings are considered to be permitted development, not needing planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions:

• The greenhouse should not be built forward of the front elevation of the house.
• The greenhouse should be single storey, with a maximum eaves height of 2.5m and maximum overall height of 4m with a dual pitched roof, or 3m for a lean-to.
• The greenhouse should have a maximum height of 2.5m if it’s within 2m of a boundary of the curtilage (area accompanying the property) of the house. This still allows for a greenhouse such as the Gabriel Ash 6x8 or 8x10 to be built right up to the boundary.
• The greenhouse should not cover more than half the area of land around the "original house" – this is the house as it stood in July 1948 (or when it was built if that is the latter date). It is worth bearing in mind that although you may not have extended, a previous owner may have.
• In National Parks, the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Sites the maximum area to be covered by a greenhouse (more than 20m from house) is limited to 10m2
• If your greenhouse is going on the side of the house within the above areas (AONB, National Park etc) Planning permission will be required.
• Within the curtilage of listed buildings any outbuilding will require planning permission.

If your greenhouse doesn’t fit one or any of the above criteria, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have it. All it means is that you may require planning permission for the greenhouse to be installed.

When it comes to planning, your new greenhouse is unfortunately no exception, and as always, if you think you need planning, the best course of action is to give your local council a quick call and ask!

For those that are worried about building regulations, have no fear. Building regulations are only applicable for habitable buildings, or structures such as Summerhouses over 30m2.