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Do I Need Planning Permission when Buying a Shepherds Hut?

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If the hut is sited in the garden of your residential property, and you intend using it as an addition to the house as a personal outdoor living space, then it is exempt from planning permission.

In this scenario, the hut is seen as an addition to your residential house and the local council do not need to be informed of your intent of buying a Shepherds hut.

If you plan on renting this garden hut as a tiny house on wheels for financial gain, then the likelihood is you will require full planning permission.

For businesses, the most likely scenario is that you will need planning permission for your new shepherd’s hut. There are a couple of scenarios that would potentially exempt you from planning permission.

An example of exemption is when a hut is a ‘temporary’ structure, and you only plan on renting it for less than 28 days a year.

However, be aware the term ‘temporary’ is a very grey area. If you are looking to buy holiday cabins for sale, to rent for financial gain, 28 days in a single year is too short a period and therefore we would advise against this option.

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Glamping Planning Permission Process

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At Dunn Well Shepherd Huts we suggest a 3 stage process:

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• Step 1 – Initial concept design

• Step 2 – Pre-planning application

• Step 3 – Full planning application.

 

Each of the steps has a different benefit.

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The main benefit of the initial concept design stage is that you set out your site exactly as per your requirements and create some beautiful outdoor living spaces for you to consider.

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We would advise you create an initial plan with assistance from a qualified architect to include where the shepherd hut will be located and the surrounding area in relation to your property and shows how the hut fits naturally into the space that you’ve allocated.

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The main benefit of the pre-planning application is that the architech will work with you and the local council, so hopefully they will understand the proposal and are on board with the project from the outset.

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A pre-planning application is essentially you contacting the council and asking for advice based on your Shepherd hut plans (that were developed in the initial concept design).

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Cooperating and communicating effectively at the beginning is an important first step. Councils tend to respond more favourably to people who discuss plans and seek advice at the outset. If you ask for pre-planning advice first, you are more likely to get the right response.

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The benefit of a full Shepherd hut planning permission application is that once approved you will be allowed to proceed, build your site and start the process of buying a Shepherds hut.

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You will also have peace of mind that your site design is safe and legal. 

 

Starting Your Glamping Business

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At Dunn Well Shepherd Huts we have previously set-up and managed a successful glamping site.  We are on hand to help you begin and then move forward with your glamping business.

 

There are several different aspects to consider, and the planning permission process is just one. There is also the build process and then the art of marketing and letting your hut to customers.

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The final (and maybe most important) aspect of starting your glamping business is attracting and acquiring customers. Creating beautiful and accommodating outdoor living spaces is just one aspect of this.

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The best way to get bookings is with a website and a digital online booking system.  Once you have a platform for people to book, you’ll then need to attract traffic and get people to the booking site.

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Social Media and Digital Marketing is essential to drive customers to your website so they can book accommodation. 

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