Permitted Development

Posted on February 10, 2012 by peterblogs

Before we start, here is a massive disclaimer.  We have written this article as a guide only. We are not planning consultants and we are not responsible for whether or not you are allowed to build in your garden and the information below is we hope a useful starting point. You MUST get an official okay from your council to be sure.

Not everyone knows that you are able to build a log cabin in your garden without too much restriction, up to a point. There are a few basic rules to adhere to when looking at building a log cabin in your garden.

  • Firstly the building must not be more than half the size of your garden curtilage i.e. the size of the plot of land you are going to site it.
  • Secondly, it must be more than 5 metres from your main residence.
  • Thirdly, it must be more than one metre from your boundary line. Although more recent legislation allows it to be right up to your boundary line as long as it is not more than two and a half meters in height.
  • Fourthly, it must be use as an extension of your family activities, i.e. gym, music room or a place for people to sleep over. ( how long is not clear).
  • Finally it must not be used for commercial gain.

Permitted development use as a granny annexe.

There are few grey areas here.

As mentioned above you can use it as an extension of your family activities and having it as a granny annexe is one of those, however and here is the grey area.

If you install BOTH a kitchen and a bathroom then the local authority will look on it as a stand alone building and will require you to apply for planning on it.
You can however have EITHER a bathroom or a kitchen without any issues as there will still be a dependency on the main residence for bathing or cooking and preparing food depending on which one you choose.

It is always best to consult your local planning office to clarify this issue as many individual authorities have a different view of this.

Exceptions:
In some cases the local planning office will look favourable on a granny annexe even with both a bathroom and kitchen where there is seen to be a need to support and look after elderly relatives in their final years, it takes a burden away from the local council and saves them money. You can in such circumstances have a condition of building the granny annexe that states that after the elderly relatives have past on that you will de commission the kitchen and bring the building back to permitted development status.

Permitted development exceptions:

There are few exceptions to all of the above.

If you live in a conservation area then any building that is over ten cubic meters in size will need approval. Ten cubic meters is effectively any building more than two metres by two meters by two metres. So basically any building at all.

Similarly if you live in an area designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty then the same thing usually applies.

If the building will be situated in your garden whereby it is within five meters of a public highway and has cause to obstruct the line of vision then you will need to consult the highways authority and planning department.

In all cases these are general rules which in the vast majority of cases hold true but it is always worth checking with the local department or speaking to an independent planning consultant if you are not sure. See also our articles on Permitted development outbuildings and Permitted development in layman’s terms.


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Granny annexe range

Posted on December 16, 2011 by peterblogs

People ask us to show them buildings suitable for use as granny annexes, but although we have a few standard models, we usually work the other way around. You tell us what you want - how many rooms your granny annexe
 requires, the sizes, the windows you want, and we’ll come up with a model just for you, a no extra cost.

Why doesn’t it cost more to have a bespoke annexe?

Well, you might think that it would, rather than just having a model off the shelf, but the truth is that most people have a good idea what they want and have spent much of their time looking around the Internet for a best fit for their annexe needs.  So we don’t charge for this for the flat log buildings, having found that a customer who has just what she or he wants, is more likely to purchase from us.  We simply work the cost out based upon the volume of wood that you require.  for instance, if you want a model a metre shorter, longer, or a different configuration of rooms, we will design your building to suit and then work out the wood used and therefore the price.

Which buildings on the site are suitable as annexes?

Pick a style and size from any of the garden buildings or houses on the site and we will make sure that what we offer you is suitable as an annexe. Remember to tell us what the building is to be used for.  An office building specification may not be suitable for an annexe.

See our other articles on annexes, such as granny annexe planning permission, or contact us now for immediate attention.

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Holiday in a log cabin.

Posted on December 2, 2011 by peterblogs

Before you phone asking us: no we don’t offer holidays!  Why mention them then?  Well, we thing that if you want a really good idea whether you want to buy a log cabin to live in permanently, then what better way than to take a holiday in one.

With this in mind, we have started to develop a great little section on log cabin holidays.  Take a log cabin holiday - where better to relax?There are a great range to choose from, spread throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, at great destinations. They offer a great base from which to holiday, and the locations are often no less than stunning.  Please contact the holiday companies directly to plan your trip, as we are not associated with them in any way.  Once you want to buy a log cabin, then please contact us, as that we can help with!

Please let us know if you holiday at any of the destinations, as we would be delighted to get the feedback and we will include your comments where possible on our website.  We have been careful to select sites that we feel look nice, but we cannot make a recommendation as to the location or holiday destination – they are merely suggestions of places we thing are suitable log cabin holiday sites.  We hope that you find the directory useful.    To suggest any other sites, or contact us regarding buying a log cabin, please use our contact form.

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What are log cabins suitable for?

Posted on December 2, 2011 by peterblogs

We get many calls regarding log cabins and their suitability for use as certain structure types.  But the truth is, that there are a whole host of applications for which a log cabin is ideal.

Amongst their uses, most people associate log cabins as houses, but are less familiar that they make great offices, are suitable for use as a granny annexe or as an occasional room in the garden for Summer use or as a games room.

Log cabin in the gardenFor the most part, the suitability of a log cabin for use as a particular structure type really depends upon whether it is of the correct thickness and structure type.  For instance, ou wouldn’t make a log cabin home out of the same form of log as you would say an office for someone working at home.  Log cabin houses are made from a large part of the thickness of a trunk (although there are also flat log houses and laminated log houses too). An office can be made from much thinner material, although careful thought as to the thickness and indeed whether you want extra insulation, or even a double skinned unit if you want to be snug in the winter and cool in the summer.

Anything you want to live in has to conform to building regulations and so make sure you tell us what you want to use a structure for, before you order it.  We will generally make sure we ask the right questions, but if you want a building as a salon, and not just to work at home, you might want a greater insulation on the structure.

See our garden house prices and here to see our log cabin prices. You can contact us, without obligation or send us a request online at any time.

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Granny annexe projects required for BBC documentary

Posted on July 8, 2011 by peterblogs


We have been approached by The BBC in relation to a possible new documentary.  If you might be interested in taking part, please read on:

Are you thinking about moving an elderly relative in to live closer to
you?  Do you have an elderly relative who is going to move into a granny annexe
within your property? Are you just about to, or are in the process of
having an annex built to house an elderly parent? 
 
The BBC would like to talk to families who are going through this
process as part of their research for a new BBC2 documentary.
Increasingly in the UK more and more families are thinking about moving
in together so that an elderly relative can be close to their family at
a time when they might need a bit more care. BBC2 will be making a
documentary film which will follow this moving in process.  As the BBC
research this subject they are hoping to speak to as many people as
possible in this situation to hear their thoughts. Ultimately the BBC
would like to film with a family in this position but at this stage
there is no commitment to be involved, just a phone conversation would
be very useful. 

The BBC would love to talk to you.  If you would be happy to share your
experiences all conversations at this stage are for research purposes
and are in the strictest confidence. 

Please contact Jenny Williams: jenny.williams@bbc.co.uk or 020 800 83825

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Sustainable buildings uk

Posted on June 30, 2011 by peterblogs

Log cabin building - made from sustainable wood

Where do you start, when you want to build a sustainable building?  Well, you could do worse than start with wood.  Wood is obviously a natural product, but not only does it lock up carbon, it looks great and is a fantastic material to use for construction, giving a great living environment. 

Use sustainable sources for wood

But, be careful that the material used is from a sustainable source.  Our wood is sourced from the sustainable forests of the Russian foothills, which means that for every tree used, replacement timber is constantly being replanted, so that the forests remain for future generations.

Not all wood is the same, and you will find that some forests produce far less suitable quality of timber than others.  For instance, the wood we use for our log cabins and garden houses, is grown slowly, having been grown in a colder climate.  Because of this, it is therefore denser than the equivalent trees grown in warmer areas.

Quality of timber covers the look and workability of the wood as well, as trees grown with many branches have more knots in the wood, making a less satisfactory finish.

What can these buildings be used for?

There are a huge range of applications for log buildings in the UK.  They can be used as houses – one or two storey (we supply one and three bedroom houses up to seven bedroom houses), granny annexes, log cabin offices and summer houses.  Depending upon the type of building, you will be supplied with a different cut of wood, but they are all sustainably sourced, so you can do your bit for the environment, whilst enjoying a great looking and functional building.

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Log cabins Yorkshire | Log cabins in Yorkshire

Posted on June 3, 2011 by peterblogs

If you are looking for somewhere to go for a relaxing long weekend or a proper summer break, you should consider something that is not as obvious but will be just as rewarding as the more popular resorts.

In Yorkshire there are numerous places of interest, from the canals developed through the industrial revolution to the stunningly beautiful Dales and the Scarborough seaside.

Stay in a log cabin in Yorkshire

To help enhance your say whilst in Yorkshire, stay in a genuine and atmospheric Log Cabin. There is simply no other type of accommodation that brings together the feeling of being really on holiday with the pleasure of waking up each morning with the ambiance of scented pine and the twitter of birds bringing the whole of nature to our senses.

Staying in a log cabin will be so unlike your own home that you will feel like you really have been transported to a completely new level of holiday experience.

There is something enervating and uplifting about Yorkshire and the friendliness of its people and its countryside and no more so than the ‘getaway from it all’ Yorkshire Dales. A perfect combination of nature meets the natural a log cabin and the Dales.

Go to a little village of High Eldwick, Near Baildon and follow the road through the road over the cattle grill past the golf course on your right hand side, follow on for about a mile of beautiful winding countryside until you stumble upon a dry stone wall which is the corner of Sconce Lane.  About one mile up Scounce Lane, is a village of beautiful log cabins of different shapes and sizes. Pop in and book a long weekend there , its called Faweather Grange and you can look on their website for details. Stay a while and feel the difference it will make to your mood, its practically hypnotising.

I would point out at this juncture that you will be seriously in danger of wanting to buy one of these log cabins and put it at the bottom of your own back garden, well I WOULDNT BLAME YOU! Many have done so and funnily enough have closed the door on their main house and wondered down the end of the garden and spent the weekend in their very own hideaway, they say that its like being away for a long weekend. 

So if you think you are looking to buy a log home then why not take a trip to Yorkshire first and spend a week just testing it out, we think YOU WONT BE DISSAPPOINTED!

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Planning consultants Cambridgeshire

Posted on May 10, 2011 by peterblogs

Many of our customers have planning issues that they need to address, for adding granny annexes, building houses on their land etc.  For this reason, we are constructing a planning consultants directory, listing consultants throughout the UK. To this end, we are also writing blog articles on planning consultant fees, permitted development for outbuildingsetc., and continue to suppliment this with other articles on various counties and planning issues. 

How to choose a planning consultant in Cambridgeshire



There are many to choose from in Cambridgeshire, but as always, we suggest you contact them and make an informed choice:

Garth Hanlon
Savills
Unex House
132-134 Hills Road
Cambridge
Dorset
CB2 2PA
Tel 01223 347000
www.savills.com/planning

Ms Clare Fairweather
Pegasus Planning Group
3 Pioneer Court
Chivers Way
Histon
Cambridge
CB4 9PT
Tel01223 202100
www.pegasuspg.co.uk

Mr Graham Wright
Birketts LLP
Daedalus House
Station Road
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
CB1 2RE
Tel 01223 326600
www.birketts.co.uk

As Cambridgeshire is a large county, we suggest you also consider whether surrounding counties might have someone closer.

Whoever you choose, we suggest that you ask them for their experience.  Some relevant questions include:

  • What is their relationship like with the local council?
  • What is their success rate?
  • Have they dealt with similar cases to your own? If they have, what was the outcome?
  • Can they give references from satisfied customers?
  • What sort of time scale do they believe the planning should take?
  • What do they believe the likely outcome of your planning application or problem will be?

Initially, you should establish any likely fees that you will incur as a result of a planning consultant’s actions on your behalf.  Make sure that they consult with you at each stage before other professionals are brought in, such as architects. 

We hope that you have found this useful and we wish you good luck in your search for a Cambridgeshire planning consultant.

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Planning consultants Hertfordshire

Posted on May 3, 2011 by peterblogs

Here is the second in our range of articles to do specifically with listing planning consultants in and around the UK. Previously, we dealt with planning consultants in London and how to choose them.  We have also dealt with planning consultant fees, outlining why you might consider the fees for a consultant worthwhile,  and permitted development for outbuildings, which gives some details and useful links on the subject.

How to choose a Hertfordshire planning consultant

We have given some details here, of consultants we have found, but ask you to look at their track record and acquire references before using them.

Dr Mervyn Miller
Based in Baldock
Hertfordshire
Tel: 01462 742685

Barker Parry Town Planning Limited
Based in Hitchin
Herts
Tel: 01462 420224

Shireconsulting
Based in St Albans
Telephone: 01727 838455

We have decided to highlight particular areas of the country, as we are often asked about planning issues and our first answer to people is that they should generally meet with a  planning consultant.

To this end I am now compiling a list of consultants and working through these, to create a directory, including Hertfordshire. More details will be available shortly within our directory, so please bookmark this blog post and come back shortly for the directory entries. 

Hertfordshire is a large county, and it might be that a consultant within the county is not as close as one, say in Essex, if you happen to be near the border.  For this reason, we have split the counties, but also suggest you look at adjacent ones. 

When speaking to consultants, one thing that has come up is that county boundaries may not be necessarily the best definition of where they can cover.  So consider also our specialism directory, which lists the same consultants, but by their specialist fields.  Within this,  we will be asking the consultants to list their preferred and serviced areas. 

We hope this initial list has been useful, and wish you good luck in your planning and search for the right professional to help you with it!

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Log cabin offices

Posted on April 21, 2011 by peterblogs

Log cabins make a great opportunity for office space, either in your garden, or on a commercial site.  And whilst, they are not Mayfair office space, they do provide a comfortable working environment.

We offer a great range of log cabin offices and these are not limited to the stock items.  Whether you have a base already prepared, and want a building to fit it, or have a special requirement, like an odd shape, length or even partition walls, we can help.

Advantages of log cabin offices

Here are several, that come to mind immediately:

  • Flexible design – as said earlier, we can make the office to your required measurements
  • Log cabin offices make a nice working environment – the offices are great open spaces with a good roof area, giving the feeling of space to work in.
  • Good heat retention – The walls of the office can be provided in thicknesses to keep you nice and snug.  Alternatively, they are easy to insulate. Walls of 44mm thick and above come with double glazing where windows are ordered, and we also have an optional roof insulation kit available
  • Log cabins are easy to build – they are very quick to construct and take only limited DIY skills – or you can get a local handy man or even our team to build them for you if you don’t want to.
  • Easy to maintain – just use a regular treatent of preservative stain, like you would use on a fence or other wood in the garden, and your office will give you many years of use.

So, remember to consider a log cabin office if you decide to work from home.

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