Need to build extension that will most likely cover at least half the patio

[Fressia123]

I've been reading about the "half the land around the original house". We live in an end of terrace with a tiny patio (3x5m) and need to build some sort of extension that will create a 4th bedroom. Is this impossible?

There are several issues here.

The planning regs governing whether PP is required are different for an extension or a separate outbuilding. So check those on the planning portal.

If you need PP, the local council website will have a link to the Local Plan which contains the relevant policies.

If the structure is to be used for purposes ancillary to the main use of the dwelling, and not a separate dwelling, if the structure meets the requirements for permitted development, that is fine. If the unit is to be used as separate accommodation PP will be required (and unlikely to be granted). This is generally the case if the building includes toilet/shower/cooking facilities etc.

Building Regulations are an entirely different set of rules.

Right, so not an extension at all!
Might be worth getting one or two design & build companies over to see what they suggest.
I don't think it will be at all practical, though, to have a permanent bedroom in the backyard if you don't have enough space to add in plumbing and a shower room. That's before you look at fire regs.

You might want to check if extra council tax would also apply

It would count as a separate dwelling for council tax if it was self-contained ie facilities for washing and cooking. But there isn't space for that anyway.

Ok, so no extra council tax as it definitely won't have its own plumbing, that's handy to know. Yes, we know it's not the most practical thing but we have to make the most of what we have.

I.e. the toilet thing we've thought of having an outside toilet. We really love our house and even if we could afford it we don't want to move (we can't anyways, and I don't think we'd get a mortgage worth that kind of £££ for the next 10 years )

How about a glamping pod? £12k

Oh wow that could work!

Or a smaller one ...look on eBay , search ‘glamping pods’

I found a local specialist (and he'd make anything not just the pods) so thank you so much @Monkeytapper

The smaller one is £5k, we stayed on a Glamping site this year for 3 nights. Had an electric heater and it was so warm and cosy. We were considering one ourselves as my eldest son has a tiny bedroom but we can’t afford to move and not possible to extend.

Oh I see @Monkeytapper so very similar to our situation.

OP based on your photos you have neighbours overlooking you from and to the side. As someone has already said, there is not a cat in hell's chance that you will not be reported to the Council for having someone living in the pod/ micro flat/ whatever. It's unsanitary, unsafe, and illegal. Think very carefully before spending any money on this!

Quite frankly I don't think anybody would mind. It's not like they'll even notice. )Back neighbours would be able to) and the one who would be able to see is a lovely old lady. Living in the dining room sounds like a much worse (and even unsanitary) idea IMO.

It would be about 8 nights per month (as it currently stands).

I’m the planning officer for my parish council and I can tell you we would not permit this. Even if the neighbours didn’t object, we as a council would report it to planning enforcement if we found out about it. You can’t have people sleeping in your back yard unless you have planning permission, which you’re extremely unlikely to get.

But how am I unlikely to get it? If say I end up using less than 50% of the space? It would still be a non permanent building (or whatever they're called).

And I don't mean it in an antagonist way but I'm trying to understand the rules.

If it is being used as a habitable room it needs prior approval/permission and buildings regs, even if within permitted development.

But of I get a glamping pod (used commercially as such) surely it meets with building regulations?

Op you need it if someone was to sleep there.

Of course you can chance it and hope no one informs or you’re not caught. But if someone inhabits it, then it needs to meet building regs for that persons safety, ie due to fire risk etc, and that’s why you need planning permission, you don’t need it for a shed, within certain limits, but I think you’d be hard pressed to get away with a glamping pod wasn’t for sleeping in.

To stand a chance of getting away with it, you’d need not have a permanent bed in there.

Actually just googled and you don’t need planning for a glamping pod as long as you don’t rent it out. They are exempt.

@Bluntness100 do you have a link by any chance? It seems like a "decent" loophole. (For the record of we could do it properly we would, but such is life).

@Fressia123

But how am I unlikely to get it? If say I end up using less than 50% of the space? It would still be a non permanent building (or whatever they're called).

If someone is sleeping in it, it is classified as a habitable room. Which means you need pp. which you won't get. It's not difficult to understand.

glampitect.co.uk/do-i-need-planning-permission-for-camping-pods/