Retrospective planning for garden office

[Propertyshmoperty]

Didn't know whether to post here in legal or the property board but thought I'd maybe get better advice here?

I live in Cheshire East area and I didn't realise I needed planning permission as I took down a wooden asbestos garage (removed by a specialist company) and erected a cedar clad garden office and decking on the same footprint. It's under 2.5m high and build was completed summer 2018. The property and deeds is from 1930.

Basically i'm looking to sell my house soon and was wondering if it would be a good idea to get retrospective planning as I'll no doubt have to take indemnity insurance and don't want to put off potential buyers. Does anybody know where to even start and who I need to contact please? If I'll get in trouble or worse have to take my office down!

I'm guessing the "4 year rule" now applies too but not even sure what that means.

Thanks in advance xx

@Propertyshmoperty It should be permitted development. I’m not sure if your area is a national park, AONB, conservation area, etc where the rules are different. Look at your Planning authority web site.

Start with your local authority planning department at the council. Give them a call and explain the situation. It's definitely a good idea to get this issue resolved before selling.

As long as you didn’t install an erroneous spa complex then you should be OK.

If it’s permitted development, that’s easy to check. Building regs could be an issue but I doubt it. Most home offices don’t need pp unless there are planning restrictions. It also replaced a building, so it’s not an extension.

In most places that would count as permitted development AFAIK. We have a garden room that I use for work, and it didn’t need any planning permission. That said, the council refused to say so for certain without my paying a hefty application fee (until I kicked a bit of a fuss up, at which point they decided it was indeed fine).

The planning pages of your local authority website are probably a good place to begin.