FAQ | Cosy Garden Rooms
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FAQ

The Answers You Need

Will I need to obtain planning permission?

Garden Rooms are considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission*, provided the following conditions are met:

  • Garden Rooms must be single storey with a maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and maximum overall height of 4 metres with a dual pitched roof, or 3 metres in any other case;

  • If the Garden Room is within 2 metres of the property boundary the whole building needs to be less than 2.5 metres high;

  • You can build up to 50% of the area of all your garden;

  • The area of your garden is all your land except the part the house stands on, so the area includes the front garden, side gardens and back garden, less the area of any other buildings, fuel tanks etc.

  • No buildings are to go in front of the front elevation of the house;

  • Conservation Areas; you cannot build at the front or side, but you can place a garden room in the back garden

  • Listed buildings; need full planning permission.

  • Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; maximum size is10sq metres and it has to be at least 20 metres away from the house.

  • Any new building must not itself be separate, self-contained, living accommodation and must not have a microwave antenna. In this case, it would need planning permission.

*Should your garden room need planning permission (does not meet the above criteria), we can provide a full planning service for you. From design through to submitting a planning application

Will my building need Building Regulations approval?

The rules governing building regulations for garden rooms are:

  • Less Than 15m2Internal Floor Area – Building Regulations will not normally apply.

  • Between 15m2And 30m2– Building Regulations are required if the garden room is built less than a meter from a boundary or it is not constructed substantially of non-combustible materials.

  • Anything larger than 30m2 Building Regulations approval is required.

  • In all cases, Building Regulations are required if the building contains any sleeping accommodation.

How tall can my Cosy Garden Room be?

Cosy Garden Rooms are considered to be ‘Permitted Development’ and do NOT require Planning Permission if:

  • The building is to be placed less than 2.0m from the boundary of the property the maximum overall height should not exceed 2.5m from existing ground level

  • It has an internal floor area of less than 30m2

If you do comply with the above criteria, garden buildings up to an internal floor area of 30 square metres are generally exempt from planning and building regulations (Except when the structure is to be used for sleeping accommodation)

Do the buildings come with a guarantee?

All Cosy Garden Rooms come with a 10 Year manufacturers guarantee. This guarantee covers replacement of any component parts should they be found to be defective within this period. However it does not cover accidental damage or weather damage once building is constructed. This is in addition to manufacturers/suppliers warrantees:

  • We use EPDM Rubber roofing system on all our buildings which are guaranteed for ten years;

  • PVCU Windows and Doors - 5 Year

Please note that external ironmongery is guaranteed for 1 year and may be subject to ‘pitting’ as it weathers.

How Should I Prepare My Site Area?

All we ask is that the site area be clear of any obstacles (i.e. rocks, trees, shrubs, sheds etc.). It is preferable to have a level soil or grass area on which to install our concrete foundation. We can install our garden rooms on either a flat or gently sloping site area. If your site area slopes a lot, then it may need leveling before we can install the garden room.

How long will installation take?

This obviously depends on the size and complexity of the garden room, but generally the concrete foundation takes a day or two, and installation (including electrics) takes two to four days the following week.

Does my Garden Room need regular maintenance?

The majority of our buildings are clad in fibre cement weatherboard which is maintenance free. If you choose a natural timber clad such as Cedar Wood, this may require regular treatment if you wish to maintain the golden colour (many Customers prefer to allow the timber to weather to a natural grey over time). We will discuss these details with you during the design process.

Exterior ironmongery should be cleaned and lubricated every six months. We recommend silicone spray or WD40 to lubricate window hinges, window locking mechanisms and door locking mechanisms. In addition they should be kept clean and free from debris.

What Parking And Access Do You Require?

Ideally, we require parking for at least one van (we use long wheel base vans) and a clear access to the site area. This could be via a side access, gate, garage or possibly through the house (as long as there are no 90 degree sharp turns).

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