Home offices
A quiet, separate workspace with insulation, daylight, power and data.
Get a quote about home officesPN Landscapes builds garden rooms and outbuildings in Uckfield, including home offices, studios and pool houses, and handles the base, levels, power, drainage, paths and landscaping around them.
An insulated garden room gives you a home office, studio, gym or guest space without the cost and upheaval of extending the house. Done well, it is warm in winter, cool in summer and sits naturally in the garden instead of looking like an oversized shed.
Because we are landscapers, we handle everything around the building as well: the base, levels, paths, power and drainage, and the paving and planting that tie it into the garden. Below are the options, the planning rules and how a project runs.
What people use garden rooms for
Pool houses
Changing space and a home for pool plant, beside the terrace.
Get a quote about pool houses
Summerhouses and lounges
Somewhere to sit with a view of the garden all year round.
Get a quote about summerhouses and loungesDo you need planning permission for a garden room?
Many garden rooms are permitted development, so no planning application is needed, provided they meet the limits. The main ones in England are:
| Rule | Typical limit |
|---|---|
| Storeys | Single storey only |
| Height near a boundary | Up to 2.5m overall if within 2m of a boundary |
| Height elsewhere | Up to 4m with a dual-pitched roof, or 3m with any other roof |
| Eaves height | No more than 2.5m |
| Position | Not forward of the front of the house |
| Coverage | Outbuildings must not cover more than half the garden around the original house |
| Use | Incidental to the house; not a separate dwelling |
Tighter rules apply to listed buildings, in conservation areas and in protected landscapes such as the High Weald National Landscape, which covers much of the countryside around Uckfield. Building regulations can also apply, particularly to buildings over 15 square metres, anything used for sleeping, and all electrical work. We will tell you what applies to your plot.
How a garden room project runs
Position and size
We look at sun, views, boundaries, trees and the route for power and water, and check the planning limits.
Base
A level, load-bearing base: concrete slab, ground screws or pads, chosen for the ground and the building.
Services
Armoured cable for power, plus data and water where needed, trenched in before the garden is finished. Electrical work is done and certified by a qualified electrician.
Building
An insulated, weatherproof structure with quality doors and glazing, clad to suit the garden.
Landscaping
Paths, steps, a terrace, lighting and planting so the room belongs in the garden.
Questions we are asked
Garden room FAQs
Can I use a garden room all year round?
Yes, if it is properly insulated in the floor, walls and roof, with double glazing and a heat source. That is the difference between a garden room and a summerhouse.
How close to the boundary can a garden room be?
Under permitted development, a building within 2 metres of a boundary must be no more than 2.5 metres high. Building regulations add fire-safety requirements for larger buildings close to boundaries.
Do garden rooms need building regulations approval?
Small detached garden rooms under 15 square metres with no sleeping accommodation are normally exempt. Between 15 and 30 square metres they are usually exempt if at least 1 metre from the boundary or built of non-combustible materials. Electrical work must always comply.
Can I sleep in a garden room?
Occasional use is different from a self-contained annexe. Regular sleeping accommodation needs building regulations approval and may need planning permission.
PN Landscapes
Talk to us about a garden room
Book a visit and we will look at position, size, base options and how to tie it into the garden.
Phone: 01825 733317
Email: info@pnlandscapes.co.uk
Address: Flitteridge Farm, Daleham Lane, Splaynes Green, Uckfield TN22 3TQ
Hours: Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 8am–1pm
Paving and stone: visit PN Paving Supplies, our sister company on the same site.