Planning Permission Guide
Most garden rooms fall under permitted development, but the detail varies by borough — conservation areas and Article 4 directions can change the position. Find your borough below, and always confirm your specific project with the council.
What is Permitted Development?
Under the General Permitted Development Order 2015 (Part 1, Class E), most homeowners can add a single-storey outbuilding — including a garden room — without a full planning application, subject to limits on height, position relative to boundaries and how much of the garden is already built on. It is not a blanket exemption: conservation areas, Article 4 directions, and larger or taller designs can all change the position. Select your borough below for the specific detail, and always confirm your exact project with the relevant council before you start.
Manchester
Manchester City Council
View Manchesterplanning guide →Salford
Salford City Council
View Salfordplanning guide →Trafford
Trafford Council
View Traffordplanning guide →Stockport
Stockport Council
View Stockportplanning guide →Tameside
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
View Tamesideplanning guide →Oldham
Oldham Council
View Oldhamplanning guide →Rochdale
Rochdale Borough Council
View Rochdaleplanning guide →Bury
Bury Council
View Buryplanning guide →Bolton
Bolton Council
View Boltonplanning guide →Wigan
Wigan Council
View Wiganplanning guide →Wilmslow and the wider Cheshire fringe fall under Cheshire East Council rather than one of the ten Greater Manchester boroughs above — see the Wilmslow area page for that area's planning context.
Not Sure Where You Stand?
We'll talk you through the planning position for your garden as part of a free, no-obligation quote.