UK Planning and Building Regulations
All our log houses for residential use, comply to UK planning and building regulations
Planning premission and building regulations are two different things:
1. Planning permission allows you to carry out the development after you have obtained approval
2. Building regulations approval is to safeguard that the works are carried out in a structurally safe manner in accordance with building regulations that are currently in force.
As a general rule of thumb, if you intend to build a structure that is intended for residential use, of any kind, you are advised to approach your local planning office to enquire if you will need planning permission to go ahead with the development.
Generally if the structure is for leisure use, and to be constructed in your garden, then so long as it is less than 30 sqm floor area and more than 1m from any boundary, you may not need planning permission and building regulation should not apply. If the structure is in excess of 30 sqm internal floor area then building regulations approval should be sought.
Likewise any buildings that are attached or sited very close to a house may be considered as extensions to the house and may require planning and building permission.
Under certain circumstances where a log building is to be sited within 1m of a boundary or house, you may be required to fire proof at least the wall facing the boundary or house to Class 0 fire resistance, this is to limit the risk of fire spreading. This can be achieved quite easily by transparent surface treatments, you would also be well advised to limit the number of doors and windows exposed to the boundary or house.
You may find there is a lack of consistency between different planning and building control authorities, as they seem to interpret the regulations in different ways, if you are building a log house and employing an architect, be it your own or ours, they should be able to advise you.
For more information on planning and building permission go to the government website.