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The Ultimate Guide To Enjoying Summer With Luxurious Garden Rooms

As the summer sun graces us with its warmth, many homeowners seek innovative ways to maximise their outdoor living experience. At Lux Garden Rooms, we believe the perfect solution lies just a few steps from your back door. Our bespoke garden rooms not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of your property but also provide a myriad of benefits that make summer living more enjoyable and functional. Here’s why investing in a garden room this summer is a decision you won’t regret.

  1. An Oasis of Relaxation

Summer is synonymous with relaxation, and what better way to unwind than in your own private retreat? A garden room serves as a tranquil escape from the daily hustle and bustle. Whether you want to immerse yourself in a good book, practice yoga, or simply enjoy a peaceful afternoon nap, the serene environment of a garden room offers the perfect setting.

  1. Entertainment Hub

Hosting summer gatherings becomes effortless with a garden room. It provides an elegant and comfortable space for entertaining guests, rain or shine. Equip it with a bar, seating area, or even a home theatre system to create an inviting ambiance for summer parties, BBQs, and family get-togethers. The versatility of our garden rooms ensures that your entertainment options are endless.

  1. Home Office with a View

Working from home during the summer can be challenging, especially with distractions indoors. A garden room offers a quiet, dedicated workspace with the added benefit of a scenic garden view. This not only boosts productivity but also enhances mental well-being, making work feel less like a chore and more like a pleasure.

  1. Health and Wellness Retreat

Transform your garden room into a wellness sanctuary. Install gym equipment, a sauna, or a meditation space to create your personal health retreat. Exercising in a garden room, surrounded by nature, can significantly enhance your fitness routine, making workouts more enjoyable and motivating.

  1. Creative Studio

For the creatively inclined, a garden room can be a haven for artistic pursuits. Whether you’re a writer, painter, musician, or craft enthusiast, having a dedicated space to nurture your creativity is invaluable. The natural light and peaceful environment can inspire and foster creativity, helping you to produce your best work.

  1. Increased Property Value

A well-designed garden room is a valuable addition to any property. It not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also increases the overall market value of your home. Potential buyers often view a garden room as a unique and desirable feature, making your property stand out in the competitive real estate market.

  1. Year-Round Usability

While garden rooms are perfect for summer, their benefits extend throughout the year. Insulated and weatherproof, they provide a cozy retreat during the colder months, ensuring that you can enjoy your garden room regardless of the season. This year-round usability makes it a worthwhile investment for any homeowner.

  1. Eco-Friendly Living

At Lux Garden Rooms, sustainability is at the heart of our designs. Our garden rooms are constructed using eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient systems, promoting a greener lifestyle. Embrace the opportunity to live sustainably while enjoying the luxury and comfort of a garden room.

Bottom Line:

Investing in a garden room this summer can transform your outdoor space into a multifunctional haven of relaxation, creativity, and entertainment. At Lux Garden Rooms, we pride ourselves on delivering bespoke solutions that cater to your unique needs and preferences. Embrace the summer season to its fullest with a garden room that not only enhances your lifestyle but also adds value to your home.

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Do You Need Planning Permission For A Garden Room?

Garden rooms are an increasingly popular addition to homes across the UK, offering versatile spaces for work, relaxation, and hobbies. But before you start building your dream garden room, it’s important to understand the planning permission requirements. The good news is that most garden rooms don’t require planning permission. They are generally classified as outbuildings, which means you can build one without formal approval, as long as you comply with certain rules. This falls under what’s known as ‘permitted development rights’.

However, not everyone has these rights. Here are some key exceptions:

• Listed Buildings: If your home is a listed building, you’ll need planning permission for any outbuilding.
• Designated Areas: Homes in National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), conservation areas, or World Heritage Sites often require planning permission.
• Flats and Maisonettes: These types of properties do not have permitted development rights.

If you’re unsure whether you have permitted development rights, feel free to contact us for advice or alternatively check with your local planning office.

Garden Room Planning Rules

To ensure your garden room qualifies under permitted development, it must meet the following criteria:

• Location: Your garden room cannot be in front of your home. If your home has been extended, the ‘front’ is defined by its position as of 1 July 1948.
• Coverage: The combined area of all extensions, sheds, and outbuildings (including your garden room) must not exceed 50% of the total land around your house as it was on 1 July 1948.
• Height: The garden room must be single-storey and less than 3 metres high (4 metres with a dual-pitched roof). If it’s within 2 metres of your boundary, the maximum height is 2.5 metres.
• Eaves: The eaves must be no more than 2.5 metres above ground level.
• Features: It cannot have a balcony, veranda, or raised platform, nor can it be used as self-contained living accommodation.

For those living in National Parks, the Broads, World Heritage Sites, or AONBs, there are additional restrictions. Any outbuilding more than 20 metres from your house cannot exceed 10 square metres. Moreover, in these areas, if any part of your garden room would be between the side of your house and the boundary of your property, you’ll need planning permission.

Planning Permission for Garden Offices

Garden offices also fall under permitted development, provided their use is incidental to the main dwelling. This means activities like  working on a computer are usually acceptable, while regular meetings with clients might not be. The latter could affect the neighbourhood, prompting the council to ask for a retrospective planning permission application. If denied, you might have to remove the building.

If in doubt, consult your local planning office to confirm whether your intended use qualifies as ‘incidental’.

Garden Rooms and Building Regulations

Building regulations focus on the construction and insulation of structures. Outbuildings typically do not need to comply with building regulations if they meet these conditions:

• Attachment: The garden room is not attached to your main home.
• Size: The floor area is less than 15 square metres.
• Usage: It does not include sleeping accommodation.

For garden rooms between 15 and 30 square metres, building  regulations approval is still generally unnecessary if there’s no sleeping accommodation, it’s over 1 metre from your boundary, and it’s  constructed from non-combustible materials.

However, if you ever plan to use the garden room for sleeping or as a guest bedroom, it will need to comply with building regulations.

Electrical Work in Garden Rooms

All electrical installations in your garden room must comply with Part P of the building regulations.

If you plan to have a separate consumer unit in the garden room, ensure a qualified electrician connects it to your mains supply. They will test the system and issue a certificate confirming it meets the required standards.

Bottom Line:

While most garden rooms don’t require planning permission, it’s essential to check your specific circumstances and ensure compliance with all relevant rules and regulations. We can take care of all these issues on your behalf, including consulting with your local planning office to provide peace of mind and prevent any potential issues.
At Lux Garden Rooms, we specialise in bespoke garden rooms for contemporary living, tailored to meet your needs and adhere to all planning and building regulations. Enjoy your new garden space
with the confidence that you’ve covered all bases!