Polytunnel planning permission

[sam]

Hi all,

I've just registered - looks like a great forum! Last year was my first year at growing my own and not bad at all, if I may say. A few disasters but also some tasty successes... so looking forward to next year.

In fact, I was REALLY looking forward to it as my dear hubby gave me a polytunnel for my 40th birthday recently. Other people get watches, jewellery... I get a tunnel and couldn't be more excited.... that is until I rang the local council to be on the safe side and check re planning.

We're going to site it at the bottom of our garden. The tunnel is 14ft wide by 25ft long. Our entire plot (including the house) is around three quarters of an acre. We're in a village and have neighbours around us. Anyway, I was STUNNED to learn that I need to apply for planning permission! If a greenhouse or tunnel is over 10m cubed, then you need permission (that's pretty small!). However, our neighbours, who have erected a VERY VERY large summerhouse (wooden, tiled roof) don't need it because it's classed as an extension of the house and for that you can go up to 70m cubed. Go figure.

So really then, if you buy an average greenhouse say, 8ft by 10ft at 6ft average height, then you strictly need planning permission. In our area, it would seem anyway. We're South Leicestershire. I put this to the planning officer and she agreed, yes you would! But how many folk do that?!

Anyone have any experience of this? I only rang to check because I was worried one of the neighbours may complain - although by the sound of it they don't really have grounds to object. It's not going to block light or interfere with a highway or be noisy or commercial. In fact, watch out if you put up a large tent in your garden for the kids to play in for more than 28 days or a summer awning with sides... you'll need to pay £135 to the council!

Thanks for any advice!
Regards,
Sam

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Sam, welcme to the madhouse known as the Vine!

Congrats on the polytunnel, that sounds like a whopper! (Oooer Missus!)

I'd not heard of planning permission like that before, I thought that any temporary structure under a certain height didnt need planning permission, so it seems a little strange to me, but having said that I'm no expert in this area! I'm sure one or two of the more knowledgeable grapes will be along later with some more and probably better informed advice!

[nick the grief]

The easy answer would have been to put up loads on smaller ones that way you'd have the same result. It suprises me in one way as I would have though it was classed as a "portable" structure as you could in theory move it around.

The other thing is you're too honest and shouldn't have asked in the first place

[Alice]

Welcome to the Vine Sam. Sounds as if your planning department operate on bureaucracy gone mad. Anyway, when you get it all sorted out, happy gardening in your magnificent polytunnel and do let us know what you are growing in there.

[sam]

Hi again all,

Wow! Quick replies around here! Thanks for the nice welcome. Suzanne, that was exactly what I thought. As long as it wasn't over a certain height, then I'd be okay.

And Nick, I put this to the planning officer - ie I could put up lots of small ones (I was trying my hardest to trick her ) but she said that they'd thought of that and you only get one 'free' shot at a small greenhouse/tunnel and then it's into permission territory for subsequent ones. God. And you're absolutely right. I was too damned honest and look where it got me. Now if I put it up and the neighbours complain to the council, the council will know I already knew the rules. DOH!

Thanks, Alice. Fingers crossed I'll get it sorted. I called First Tunnels and they thought it a bit odd too. I've called the council twice now, just to make sure they hadn't got it wrong, saying that it's not much more than a tent...not concreting anything yadda yadda... but nay. They don't want it to be easy for me to grow nice organic veg. I'd rather contend with the pigeons and slugs anyday. Didn't realise the local council would be pests on my plot!

As for what I'm gonna grow, well, all my toms will be in there (outside this summer and great but hopefully better inside), aubergines, cucs, peppers, salad leaves by the ton, chillies... maybe even my sweetcorn, which did okay but I put it in a bit late. Feeling rather deflated though.

Thanks again everyone!

Sam xx

[filthyrich]

hi sam some time back the telegraph ran an article re structures in gardens,and it appeares that if you follow certain rules re position height etc and the use of the structure is ancillary to the enjoyment of your property. then under permitted development rights you dont need planning permission.

[sam]

Well guess what?! The council just called me back. Apparently they'd been discussing my tunnel and dug deeper (haha!) into the regulations and it turns out that as long as the tunnel is 5m away from my house (which it easily will be) and no higher than 3m, then I can go ahead because we're not in a conservation area!!! Yeeehaaa! What a relief.

Thanks, Filthyrich, for your comments. You're absolutely right, it seems. It just took the coucil a little longer to figure out their own rules. Ooh, my fingers are itching already to get it up and filled with 'stuff'.

Well, this seems like a brilliant forum/resource and I shall be stopping by regularly to get a dose of information. I'm such a newbie to growing (only 1 season old) but as keen and passionate about it as I could be. My kids are really into it too, especially my 8 year old. Who knows, I might even be able to offer some advice in time too! I'm certainly au fait with planning regs now!

Thanks again all
Sam xx

[Mrs Dobby]

Thats great news Sam! I'm really pleased for you!!! Sounds like the council are going to have to do their homework a bit better next time!

I'm green with envy at the thought of all that lovely growing space inside your polytunnel, what varieties are you planning on growing? Any other veg you are trying this year too? Keep us all posted, and if you get the chance some piccies would be great!

We could have done with a polytunnel today, just back from the plotnow, rained and blown off, only managed a couple of hours before it just got too cold! Had to dodge 4 showers too, not fun when all you want to do is carry on working!

[Earthbabe]

Great news Sam and fair play to you for hanging in there. Just goes to show that questioning and persistence pay off. Enjoy it and may it bring many blessings.

[Snadger]

Hello Sam and welcome to the vine!

Glad it's all sorted out now and common sense has eventually prevailed!

[burnie]

Well guess what?! The council just called me back. Apparently they'd been discussing my tunnel and dug deeper (haha!) into the regulations and it turns out that as long as the tunnel is 5m away from my house (which it easily will be) and no higher than 3m, then I can go ahead because we're not in a conservation area!!! Yeeehaaa! What a relief.

Thanks, Filthyrich, for your comments. You're absolutely right, it seems. It just took the coucil a little longer to figure out their own rules. Ooh, my fingers are itching already to get it up and filled with 'stuff'.

Well, this seems like a brilliant forum/resource and I shall be stopping by regularly to get a dose of information. I'm such a newbie to growing (only 1 season old) but as keen and passionate about it as I could be. My kids are really into it too, especially my 8 year old. Who knows, I might even be able to offer some advice in time too! I'm certainly au fait with planning regs now!

Thanks again all
Sam xx

I used to live in Blaby council area,they used to make it up as they went along,probably still do.You can ask any council for a copy of their planning rules(anonymously if you want) which will lay out their rules.Apart from the fire regs distance from the edge of the house,you can fill up to 60 percent of your land with what ever you like,single storey with no running water or sewage installed,also check your house deeds as they can throw up some other restrictions,in Cosby I could keep female chucks only,here I can't keep any chickens.

[nick the grief]

Great new Sam. Planning reg are really a joke they are so complicated it's no wonder they don't understand them

Speaking modestly, yes you're right this is a great resource aand we are wonderful Glad to here the little Sam's are interested in GYO, make the most of it when they get to 16 they discover girls & loose interest in helping Dad in the garden ........ still at least they wash regularly

Can I suggest you take a trip to Ryton gardens & go into their shop & get a copy of Bernard Salts "Gardening under Plastic" if you haven't already got it. It is a mine of information about all things polytunnel.

Welcome to the Vine by the way

[Mrs Dobby]

Nick, I think Sam is short for Samantha, so it's little Sam's helping Mum in the garden!

[sam]

Thanks Suzanne, Earthbabe, Snadger,Burnie and everyone. I had my fists raised to defend my tunnel! My seeds are rattling in their packets in celebration! I only hope we can get it put up okay now. Give the neighbours a laugh, anyway.

Sorry to hear you got rained off, Suzanne. But two hours is better than no hours, which is my effort in the garden currently due to work. As for what I'm going to grow and what varieties, I have a LOT of research to do. I'm very 'green' really and what I know so far has come from reading, scouring the net and a bit of trial and error. Basically this year, I dug a plot (much digging and working as heavy clay) bought seeds that took my fancy, had a go and now have a bit of an idea what works and what doesn't. I think growing undercover is going to be very different - not to mention the labour of watering. I want to set up some kind of irrigation/butt system eventually. I think planning is essential and I'm going to keep a diary so I know when to do what and also record successes/disasters. I'll certainly post some pics when we get going. Maybe some tunnel erection pics could be useful. Will be a good guide on how not to do it, probably!

And Burnie, after my experiences today, what you say about chickens doesn't surprise me! Blaby, eh? Not far at all from us although we fall under Harborough. Useful to know about getting hold of the council's regulations. Ooh, 60% of our garden under plastic?? Don't tempt me! The kids have already said they want to live in the tunnel as it will be warmer than our house!

Thanks for all the support! Night all

[nick the grief]

oh well it was a 50:50 chance