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Do I need planning permission for a garden gazebo or adding an awning to my house?
A garden gazebo or freestanding awning will often fall under permitted development rights provided it abides by the restrictions set out by government. In this instance a garden gazebo or freestanding awning will be classed as an outbuilding and should not be in front of the house or more than 2.5 metres in height.
Different rules apply if the awning is attached to the house itself. It may still be permitted development, but falls under the class of enlargement, improvement or alteration.
Read more information including the full list of rules for outbuildings
Common Questions
The UK Government provide access to public land records, allowing you to check certain restrictions on land. You can use the online tool to check whether your land is in a conservation area.
VisitGOV.UK and use the planning data map.
(This map covers planning data for England).
If you are unsure you should contact your local planning authority.
A 'listed building' is a building, object or structure in the UK that has been considered as of national importance in terms of architectural or historic interest and included on a register called the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.
Buildings are listed to help protect the physical evidence of our past, including buildings, which are valued and protected as a central part of our cultural heritage and our sense of identity. Historic buildings also add to the quality of our lives, being an important aspect of the character and appearance of our towns, villages, and countryside.
There are three listing grades:
- Grade I - Buildings of exceptional interest
- Grade II* - Particularly important and more than special interest
- Grade III - Buildings of special interest, warranting every effort being made to preserve them (this is the most common)
If you live in a listed building it means you cannot demolish or alter the building in a way that changes its character without Listed Building Consent.
A bin store is classed as an outbuilding, these fall under permitted development rules meaning they are allowed as long as they adhere to a set list of rules. However, one of these rules is that outbuildings cannot be placed in front of the principal elevation*. As such, you will be required to apply for planning permission to build a bin store or any permanent structure in your front garden.
Read more about the rules for outbuildings.
Principle elevation - The most visible or prominent side of a structure, typically facing a street or public area. While often considered the 'front' of the building, it may not always contain the main entrance.
An application for full planning permission for a change of use is often required when changing from a house (use class C3) to a residential institution (use class C2). This is due to the increased activity which a C2 use would have on the local street area through the addition of visitors, staff and changes to parking.
Read additional information on use classes and changes of use.
Most garden ponds will fall under permitted development rights, meaning an application for planning permission is not required. In planning terms a pond will be classed as an outbuilding, to read the full rules around installing an outbuilding, visit our common projects section.
For ponds which are particularly deep or large, you may need to apply for planning permission. If you are unsure, you should contact your local planning authority for advice.
In a listed building you will require listed building consent for any major changes.
When installing a pond, you should take into account other regulatory considerations such as environmental permits or any protected species which may be impacted. Further thought will have to be placed when creating ponds near riverways or in areas of flood risk.
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