Evy Coe
To many people, building decking in your garden might not seem to be a big deal. Sure, it can be a great new outdoor feature, but it’ll hardly dramatically alter your home’s appearance or structure.
However, despite the fact that building decking can often be a small and low-key project, there are still rules that you need to follow. Some of these come under planning laws.
To make sure that you’re aware of the rules you need to follow and your project runs smoothly, we’ve put together a simple guide to decking planning permission.
What’s planning permission?
Planning laws exist to control how urban and rural areas develop. They usually relate to the appearance of structures and how they impact on their surroundings.
Some types of home improvement work are known as permitted developments. This is when you can go ahead with the work without having to notify anyone or get permission. But if you want to do other kinds of work, you’ll need to apply for planning permission. This involves completing an application form and submitting it to your local authority. They will review it and let you know if you have permission to do the work or not.
You should always ensure that your decking is a permitted development or has planning permission before you go ahead and build it. If you don’t follow decking planning permission rules then you may be forced to dismantle it.
Does my decking need planning permission?
Decking is usually a permitted development, as long as you follow these rules:
- It’s no more than 30cm above the ground
- Combined with any extensions and outbuildings, it doesn’t take up any more than 50% of your garden
Generally speaking, if you fulfil these criteria then you don’t need to apply for decking planning permission.
However, there are some situations where you’ll need to apply for planning permission anyway, even if your decking does follow the rules above. If:
- It’s within 20 metres of a road
- It will affect the value or privacy of nearby properties
- It’s attached to a listed building or on designated land
- Any part of the construction is higher than 3 metres
Then you’ll need to apply for planning permission.
Confused? Don’t worry. If you’re at all unsure, it’s a good idea to get in touch with your local authority to find out whether you need to apply for planning permission.
You can contact your local planning authority through your local council’s website. If you’re not sure who your local council is, use this handy tool.
