Garden offices have seen a soar in demand, particularly since the start the covid pandemic. This was because of the government advice to work from home where possible, which has deterred millions of office workers to the office, and instead towards the comfort of working in their own home.
For some however, it has proved too much to work in the same room, or floor as their bedroom or kitchen. Working from home is further made difficult if a number of household members are doing the same too, calling for disputes regarding working space. As such, the garden office proves the perfect and rather affordable alternative measure, or investment as some might see it.
The market for home offices is extensive, with options differing in size, appearance and material to suit all sorts of needs and budgets.
Read our guide on offices with breakout areas
Do I Need Planning Permission For A Garden Office?
The first thing before considering a garden office is to see if you need permission. This could include permission from a landlord, or even planning permission from the local council.
The total area covered by the garden office must not exceed 50 per cent of the total area of the curtilage and cannot face the road; essentially, it cannot be in your front garden. The garden office can only be one storey and but not be taller than 3 or 4 metres maximum.
The buyer must ensure that the building will not be visited by clients regularly. It can be used by a few people, but cannot be used to facilitate face-to-face appointments, like a beautician might require.
How Close Can A Garden Office Be To A Boundary?
Under permitted development rights, garden offices or outbuildings should be positioned at least 2 metres from the property boundary if the total ground area covered by buildings, enclosures and containers over 20 metres from the house is more than 10 square metres.
Please remember that if you plan to place the garden office closer to 2 metres from the boundary and it is over 2.5 metres in height, you must apply for planning permission.
It’s important to note that there are also some other conditions to satisfy for it to be considered permitted development, such as:
- Outbuildings and other additions must be at most 50% of the total land area around the original house.
- Outbuildings should not be used for residential accommodation.
Is A Garden Office Worth It?
If you’re working from home, getting a garden office that’s not too expensive could be a smart move. Don’t forget, the money you spend on a garden office can save you money on renting an office and traveling to work. So, always think about the full benefits, not just the cost to start with.
Can I Get A New Build With Garden Office?
For buyers in Scotland, Allanwater Homes is actually presenting its new builds with fully insulated garden rooms, which can be installed to serve as garden offices. This means specific lifestyle needs where workers have adjusted to working from home to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The garden offices offered by Allanwater Homes are similar to competitor options in that they permit technical additions and solutions. For instance, the work experience inside a garden office can be enhanced by smart control systems for heating, ergonomic seating, voice-activated solutions and even smart plug sockets and lighting.
As workers approach the winter months, the investment may be worth considering. But if so, they should ensure their garden office models are fully insulated.