Planning Permission

As a general rule playhouses are treated as temporary structures for the purpose of planning permission and so generally permission is not needed.

Each planning authority has its own rules but general guidelines are

• The structure must be less than 4 metres high to the top of a ridged roof if it is to be beyond 2 metres from a boundary. If it has a flat roof the maximum height should be 3 metres.
• The structure must be less than 2.5 metres high if within 2 metres from the boundary
• The playhouse should be 5 metres away from the dwelling.
• The playhouse must not be sited between the dwelling and the main highway.
• The playhouse does not have a floor area in excess of 30 square metres.
• If the playhouse has a floor area of more than 20 square metres it should be 1 metre from the boundary.
• Platforms above 30cm need planning permission.  We would advise discussing with your local authority what their views are on this rule within the contxt of children's play equipment as views differ within different planning departments: At present technically you need planning permission for a standalone children's slide!  In our experience as long as the proposal is sensible and not adversely affecting the neighbours, planning permission will either not be needed or if it is it will be granted after going through the correct process: We are happy to help further if you woudl liek to discuss this with us.

If your dwelling is listed or in a Conservation Area there maybe local planning differences. A quick phone call to the local planning department should clarify the situation and give peace of mind.

 Follow the link to the official government site on planning permission

www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/outbuildings