New Workshop Build

[MrD]

Hi,

I am new here but I have been reading workshop builds on UKWorkshop with great interest.

Members like Calrsberg, Shultzy & Redhill Red have inspired me with their builds.

My current workshop is 10 x 8 foot and was my first build. I started with blocks like Carlsberg and laid a timber base from 50x75 pressure treated. I placed 25mm redwood floorboards and made the wall frames and roof from 50x50 pressure treated. I put cheap shed felt on the roof which leaked after the first year. It has survived 5 years and not a sign of rot which I am proud of!

So anyway, we are weeks (I hope) away from moving house and I have to build a new workshop (bigger this time) and I am planning every detail.

My question really is, has anyone hit issues with the new planning laws? My workshop will be near the boundary so it looks like it will need to be 2.5m height max. Now my current workshop is 2.6m and I am planning on a much thicker base and also roof so I can insulate this one. So I am thinking either heading towards a Pent design or going for planning permission.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Mark

 

[Escudo]

Welcome aboard Mark, glad you have joined the gang.

Interesting plans you have as well, much the same for me. My current shed is only 10 x 8 and I badly need to move to something bigger.

I have my eyes on a piece of the garden in which I could fit a 20 x 12 shed.

I have not yet looked into the planning regulations but seem to remember from previous posts that permission is not necessary if the building is more than 5 metres from your house?

I will talk to my neighbours when the time comes, and check with the planning authority to be sure.

I am thinking at the moment of organising a solid concrete base, and then running two courses of bricks around, before bolting the workshop walls on to this with the appropriate damp proof membrane.

I will look out for your progress with envy and interest. What size do you have in mind?

Cheers, Tony.

 

[MrD]

Hi Tony,

Thanks for your reply. I would be looking to go for 20 by 12 as well - sounds ideal.

Planning changed in october 2008. New rules state:
Maximum height 2.5 metres within two metres of a boundary.

Which mine will be :-(

I have considered the solid base option but we will have limited access to the back of our house so no chance of getting a truck close. I have to admit I love my timber floor and am trying to be eco also which concrete is not! So small amounts only.

Looking forward to watching Tommy Walsh doing his ultimate workshop again this Friday on Discovery I think.

Regards
Mark

 

[Escudo]

Yes - I think Tom's workshop was along the lines I had in mind. (Not including the mezzanine floor mind you )

A friend of mine has a civils firm and he said he could do the base for around £1,000. This would involve quick mix concrete barrowed into the back garden. Lots of steps and a slope to negotiate. Back breaking work.

A trip to the planning office seems the best plan to be sure.

I have cut out some paper shapes to represent the machines I have and will add. This way I can be sure they fit and adjust the overall dimensions to suit.

I also think it would be nice to have some sort of lean to on the side for timber storage, drying etc.

I don't know when I will have time to organise all of this, it is a big job to take on. When I made the 10 x 8 shed it took me around a year to complete!

On that basis this project will take about three years!

Tony.

 

[MrD]

Not going for the hydrolic floor then Tony? Me neither - that is one part of Tom's build I cannot figure out!

I am still assembling my tools so cannot really plan my layout like you are doing however I am a festool man so most of my plans will revolve around them.

Regards

Mark

 

[head clansman]

Hi Mark

Don't know where you live Reg's might be a bit different from here in weymouth.

I wrote to the planning office here to ask what i could or couldn't do , got a really nice reply as my workshop is all timber and constructed to look like a large shed as you can in my (www) as long as it complied to fire Reg's which it had to be more than 5m away from any dwelling it could be of any size. the only other reg was no more than 4 m to the ridge, mine is 3.5m by 2.1ish at the eaves then 8m*4.5m, hope this might be of some help. hc

 

[MrD]

Hi Mark

Don't know where you live Reg's might be a bit different from here in weymouth.

I wrote to the planning office here to ask what i could or couldn't do , got a really nice reply as my workshop is all timber and constructed to look like a large shed as you can in my (www) as long as it complied to fire Reg's which it had to be more than 5m away from any dwelling it could be of any size. the only other reg was no more than 4 m to the ridge, mine is 3.5m by 2.1ish at the eaves then 8m*4.5m, hope this might be of some help. hc

Hi HC,

I think you are correct - the best thing will be to write to the planning office. I have read lots on these forums about the planning office and planning permission and it does seem that there is no easy way to figure it out yoursefl!

Thanks
Mark

 

[head clansman]

Hi mark

It's best to really , as they do have the powers if someone complains and they didn't know about it to make you take it down , workshop are expensive items nowadays , all i did as well i enclosed a pic cut from a magazine of a ordinary garden shed so they got the idea and told them what size i was thinking of and all was OK with them just as long as I followed there instruction as i mentioned in the other post. Never even been round to check on it. good luck .hc

 

[Chris By The River]

Hi Mark,

The new 2.5m height rule came into force 1/10/08 and has caused a lot of confusion for my customers (I sell sheds, workshops, garden offices etc.)

The impression that we get from the local planners is that any part of the building that is higher than 2.5m should be 2m away from your boundary.

Therefore, if the eaves of your workshop are 2m high and the ridge is 2.6m high, the point on the roof where it rises to 2.5m needs to be 2m away from the boundary.

Obviously, if you put the gable end against the boundary you have exceeded the 2,5m straight away but not so if you put the eaves side of the workshop.

This might help:

www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpu ... 33153.html

I hope that this makes sense!!!!!

Chris

 

[RogerM]

Hi Mark,

The new 2.5m height rule came into force 1/10/08 and has caused a lot of confusion for my customers (I sell sheds, workshops, garden offices etc.)

The impression that we get from the local planners is that any part of the building that is higher than 2.5m should be 2m away from your boundary.

Therefore, if the eaves of your workshop are 2m high and the ridge is 2.6m high, the point on the roof where it rises to 2.5m needs to be 2m away from the boundary.

Obviously, if you put the gable end against the boundary you have exceeded the 2,5m straight away but not so if you put the eaves side of the workshop.

This might help:

www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpu ... 33153.html

I hope that this makes sense!!!!!

Chris

A good thought Chris. And if the eaves need to be next to the boundary, how about either a hipped or half-hipped roof? That would also more than likely make any point higher than 2.5m more than 2m from the boundary.

 

[MrD]

Hi Chris and Roger,

Thankyou for the input.

I was working on the basis of making sure I have a ridge where it is lower at the boundry and rises above 2.5m over the 2m line. The back boundry maybe an issue also so Roger I will consider the hipped option!

Thanks for the help. I will hopefully post my findings as and when we move into the new house ( solicitors!!! )