Decking - planning permission required?

[oobster]

Folks,

I live in a street where it would be impossible to allow my young daughter out to play at the front of the house so i'd like to put some decking at the rear of the house. This will allow her to play outside safely in the summer and means there would be less grass for me to cut!

Do I need planning permission? It'll be approx. 4.5M wide by 3M long.

Also - any ideas on a rough price?

[sleep envy]

depends on the elevation, LA policy, size, how much your neighbours objet to it, etc, etc

chat with your planner IMO

[74merc]

I spent about £350 on materials alone from B&Q for a 2.5m x 2.5m deck. I did the work myself so have no idea how much it would cost for labour.

[oobster]

74merc said:

I spent about £350 on materials alone from B&Q for a 2.5m x 2.5m deck.

Any pictures of it finished?

[jkennyd]

Up my way its usually okay if its less than 30ms

[oobster]

sleep envy said:

depends on the elevation, LA policy, size, how much your neighbours objet to it, etc, etc

chat with your planner IMO

I've got the number for the planning department at the local council but surprise surprise they never answer the phone.

It's only going to be 8-10 inches off the ground - it's so the wee one can go straight from the house into the garden without any steps. All houses around us are on the same level so it won't allow us any enhanced views of other gardens or properties. The neighbour on one side has their large brick conservatory wall facing onto our property so they should have no opinion on our decking as it won't affect them at all.

[cardigankid]

I don't think it is a problem, and I suspect that the planners will come back with some non-committal answer. The main thing is whether your neighbours are going to cause trouble. If not, it's your house, do what you like is my advice.

[andya7]

The General Permitted Development Order (October 2008) was supposed to clarify what can & can't be carried out to domestic dwellings, but so far is causing (me!) a few problems...

First point - are you in a listed building or conservation area? If so, forget the following as you could well need planning permission, but speak to your LA Planning Dept.

If the above is not applicable then;

Class A - 'enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a dwellinghouse', confirms that it is not permitted if; 'it would consist or include - (i) the construction or provision of a veranda, balcony or raised platform'. I would suggest that your proposed works come under this area.

However;
'Interpretation of Part 1 - ''raised' in relation to a platform means a platform with a height greater than 300mm''


My summary...
If you are constructing a timber deck, in the rear of your garden to a height no greater than 300mm, covering no more than 50% of the land within the curtilage of your house, then you will be ok! But for the definitive answer, speak to your LA planning department.

IF you choose to take the 'f*ck em' attitude then you may well have issues if & when you come to sell as purchasers Solicitors see things like; decking, sheds, outbuildings, etc. and insist that a letter from the Council is provided for their client. This is what is causing me the problems for a few clients as planning authorities are now insisting on a Lawfull Development Application which can take +8weeks...

[oobster]

andya7 said:

The General Permitted Development Order (October 2008) was supposed to clarify what can & can't be carried out to domestic dwellings, but so far is causing (me!) a few problems...

First point - are you in a listed building or conservation area? If so, forget the following as you could well need planning permission, but speak to your LA Planning Dept.

If the above is not applicable then;

Class A - 'enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a dwellinghouse', confirms that it is not permitted if; 'it would consist or include - (i) the construction or provision of a veranda, balcony or raised platform'. I would suggest that your proposed works come under this area.

However;
'Interpretation of Part 1 - ''raised' in relation to a platform means a platform with a height greater than 300mm''


My summary...
If you are constructing a timber deck, in the rear of your garden to a height no greater than 300mm, covering no more than 50% of the land within the curtilage of your house, then you will be ok! But for the definitive answer, speak to your LA planning department.

IF you choose to take the 'f*ck em' attitude then you may well have issues if & when you come to sell as purchasers Solicitors see things like; decking, sheds, outbuildings, etc. and insist that a letter from the Council is provided for their client. This is what is causing me the problems for a few clients as planning authorities are now insisting on a Lawfull Development Application which can take +8weeks...

Many thanks for that, much appreciated.