does anyone know what counts as an 'outbuilding' ?

[LaurieFairyCake]

Under permitted development it says 'outbuildings, sheds, greenhouses' mustn't be more than 50% of the garden

I want to put an office (with a loo/shower room so I can use it as an extra bedroom) plus a summerhouse, plus a covered verandah on the outside of a flat.

The whole 'garden' is 1130 square feet - if I count all the above its more than 50% but if I don't count the verandah then it's less.

However the verandah I want is going to be enclosed like an American porch with a fireplace and acrylic panels instead of glass - like this

I think an enclosed verandah with a fireplace would count as a conservatory never mind an outbuilding!! Ring your council and ask them.

So an extra house in the back garden then?

It sounds as though it would not be covered by permitted development. The loo would give you away, it's another house.

Ok, not as posh as the picture. A deck/wooden base, with a roof and wooden railings, fireplace of brick at the end, Perspex panels (removeable in summer) instead of glass.

I would check with your local planning department TBH as it's probably quite complicated but I have a feeling it's to do with the permanence of the structure of a building, so something to do with footings/foundations and how it is constructed eg. wood construction may be OK but not brick??

I know I'm allowed the office and she summerhouse under permitted development. Anyone's allowed to do that providing its not facing the road and you don't rent it out.

It's the verandah I'm wondering about.

Yes, that's what I thought - the deck/American style porch won't have footings - it's just somewhere to eat outside 8 months of the year - not a permanent structure

There is also a height restriction for decking but I'm not sure when decking becomes a veranda IYSWIM

Some info here

The section on outbuildings says that for it to fall within permitted development there should be:

"No veranda, balconies or raised platforms"

so you may have to get planning permission.

(Disclaimer - I am no expert on this, just what I've picked up from going through planning process ourselves and good ol' Google )

oops , forgot link

Thanks

I'm also not sure when a deck becomes a verandah

A veranda has a roof, and is often partly enclosed by a rail or fence. It often is attached to the house on more than one side. Think old colonial buildings with a swing chair on it.
A porch also has a roof, is attached to the building and also often has rails but is more likely to be enclosed by a screen, lattice, cloth or light walls. Usually, a porch involves the front or back door to allow someone to pause before entering or leaving - so some can be tiny but still qualify as a porch.
A patio is roofless and is usually tiled or paved.
A deck is typically a flat surface made of wood. It's often built above the ground leaving a crawl space below, and most often is connected to the building.
A pergola isn't attached to a building and is like a gazebo.

Reference: www.servicecentral.com.au/article/patio-deck-porch-pergola-or-veranda-whats-the-difference/

Just ask your council to come and have a look, they will tell you.

I need to know before I buy somewhere newlife as that affects the place I buy

The places with the bigger gardens are much more expensive and further out

I figure someone must have built a thingy (deck/verandah) before me within permitted development.

I'm now wondering if I put a caravan (not static) instead of an office if that's an outbuilding even though it's moveable

The verandah would be attached to the house/flat right? If so surely it would be an extension not an outbuilding? May still fall under permitted development but there are normally additional rules for PD extensions.

I don't think a deck is necessarily attached - I could certainly not attach it

Is it an outbuilding if it can't be directly accessed from the house?

(Haven't RTFT, apols if this has been said)

(ie if it can be accessed from inside the house then it isn't an outbuilding, which is the point I meant to make!)

I wouldn't have thought a deck you step outside onto is an 'extension' - but I'm not sure.

But your deck is going to have a roof and walls, making it not just a deck.

Yes, but if it's not attached to the house it's a deck or a gazebo possibly ?

Like this pergola maybe (but right outside house) with a solid roof and that lovely fireplace

I'm pretty sure Verandahs, raised platforms and balconies, etc all need planning permission,and cannot be done under permitted development. Some information on it here:
www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/100806_PDforhouseholders_TechnicalGuidance.pdf

I think you're right - but I also wonder if they're not raised by more than 30cm if it is a verandah? Or just a deck. I don't think it's the walls or roof that make the verandah but is more the impact of foundations or whether it's attached to buildings.

In that last picture it's flat to the ground.