Planning Permission for a Pergola?

kai · 31 Jul 2020 at 13:53

I am currently building a decking area to the side of the house. At the top of the fence, you can see the neighbors bay window that makes up their kitchen. The fence is the neighbors. There would be no fixing to their fence. It would be a 4 post pergola with open slats at the top.

Different websites are saying different information.

ik9000 · 31 Jul 2020 at 16:15

you might do due to proximity to their window, and depending on orientation of shadows it will cast. Contact your council planning dept - they will be able to advise. Alternatively employ an architect to do a review for you, but start with quick query to the council.

Two things at play: Local planning regulations and rights of light (RoL) law. Not sure if planning fully considers the latter which your neighbours could potentially object under.

200sols · 31 Jul 2020 at 19:01

Keep it below 2.5m and there will be no issues with planning.

ik9000 · 31 Jul 2020 at 19:18

200sols said:
Keep it below 2.5m and there will be no issues with planning.

why's that?

200sols · 31 Jul 2020 at 19:25

ik9000 said:
why's that?

Within 2m of a boundary this is the maximum height without requiring permission, assuming this is not at the front of the house of course.

ik9000 · 31 Jul 2020 at 19:34

unless it obstructs a window. I thought there was something about that...

kai · 1 Aug 2020 at 14:13

200sols said:
Keep it below 2.5m and there will be no issues with planning.

Yes, but its near a neighbors window. The wording is different for each website and very grey!

Azza · 1 Aug 2020 at 14:38

If it's not taller than 2.5m it will be under permitted development so it'll fine, especially if there won't be a 'solid' roof to it.

Just contact your local planning department if in doubt.

roadie · 1 Aug 2020 at 17:45

Unless PD rights have been removed!

As others have said, contact your local planning department.

TheFew · 1 Aug 2020 at 18:14

Is the 2.5m rule an absolute hight or a relative height? For example my garden fence borders a lane. On my side the ground is 30cm lower than the lane. So could I put a 2.8m shed in and be OK? As seen from the lane it would still be 2.5m..

200sols · 1 Aug 2020 at 18:35

Its on your land AFAIK.

kai · 9 Nov 2020 at 09:17

Well, i finally bit the bullet this weekend and pretty much went with - its our land and under 2.5m so there should be no issue. No complaints so far.

Sleepers moved to a right angle
Deck frame built
Composite Decking
2m Pergola built into decking
Pizza oven and fire pit pending.

Molep · 9 Nov 2020 at 09:22

looking good

ahar · 9 Nov 2020 at 11:41

That looks nice. A house near us has done something similar, but they have a removeable canvas cover thing that hangs off the underneath to get some shade in summer.

Semple · 9 Nov 2020 at 11:59

kai said:
Well, i finally bit the bullet this weekend and pretty much went with - its our land and under 2.5m so there should be no issue. No complaints so far.

Sleepers moved to a right angle

Deck frame built

Composite Decking

2m Pergola built into decking

Pizza oven and fire pit pending.

Looks good.

I do often wonder why people get a pergola though - why have a roof structure if you're not planning to use it as any form of shelter.

Dave85 · 9 Nov 2020 at 12:12

I'm thinking of adding a pergola as that looks awesome. You can get waterpoof covers for them that provide shade as well and then you remove them if super windy so best of both worlds really. Plus it's a lovely thing to hang lights from. That is the issue I'm having just now with my pizza oven and deck not enough light to cook outside at night.

kai · 9 Nov 2020 at 12:27

Dave85 said:
I'm thinking of adding a pergola as that looks awesome. You can get waterpoof covers for them that provide shade as well and then you remove them if super windy so best of both worlds really. Plus it's a lovely thing to hang lights from. That is the issue I'm having just now with my pizza oven and deck not enough light to cook outside at night.

Cheers, yes i have 70ft of string lights coming. I was thinking about a roof, but a waterproof cover will get dirty quickly as my house is backed by a forestry. I was thinking some polycarbonate, but i think if you add a roof its classed as an outbuilding, and then it becomes a planning permission thing.

I had outdoor sockets put around the house when we had an extension. Outdoor sockets are a god send.

topgun06 · 9 Nov 2020 at 19:42

Nice work. I want to erect a pergola too soon. Did you DIY the wood and the design?

alexakasloth · 10 Nov 2020 at 07:17

kai said:
Cheers, yes i have 70ft of string lights coming. I was thinking about a roof, but a waterproof cover will get dirty quickly as my house is backed by a forestry. I was thinking some polycarbonate, but i think if you add a roof its classed as an outbuilding, and then it becomes a planning permission thing.

I had outdoor sockets put around the house when we had an extension. Outdoor sockets are a god send.

I think it would still fall under permitted development if you were looking to add some cover:

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/43/outbuildings

What you have done looks very nice.

kai · 10 Nov 2020 at 10:01

topgun06 said:
Nice work. I want to erect a pergola too soon. Did you DIY the wood and the design?

Yes, i designed everything from scratch then procured everything locally via building merchants. It was just a complete wasted space in the top end of our garden. We have seating etc out of view past the extension but, it just allows us to use this area as it gets sun most of the day.