Home offices · Gyms · Studios
Garden rooms & outbuildings in Ilford & Essex
We build insulated garden rooms and outbuildings for home offices, gyms, studios and playrooms across Ilford, Redbridge, Romford, Barking and Essex.
Prices
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Insulated garden room | from £18,000 | Base, frame, insulation, windows and doors, electrics, finished inside. |
| Garden office with shower room | from £28,000 | Adds water, drainage, shower, toilet and basin. |
Starting prices. The final price depends on size and condition; we measure for free and quote in writing. We are not VAT registered, so no VAT is added to our labour; where a price says “+ VAT”, that is the VAT our supplier charges on the materials, passed on at cost.
How much does a garden room cost?
The cost depends on size, the base and foundations, the structure and insulation, glazing and doors, cladding, electrics and heating, and whether you add a WC or shower. We survey your garden for free and give an itemised quote.
Do I need planning permission for a garden room?
Many garden rooms are permitted development if they are single storey, used for something incidental to the house (not as a separate home), and within height limits, which are lower within 2 m of a boundary. Flats, listed buildings and conservation areas have different rules.
Planning rules change and depend on your property, so we always check with your council before work starts. Building Regulations approval is needed whether or not planning permission is.
Permitted development limits in more detail
- Single storey only, and not in front of the main front wall of the house.
- Eaves no higher than 2.5 m.
- Overall height no more than 4 m with a dual-pitched roof, or 3 m for any other roof.
- Within 2 m of a boundary, no more than 2.5 m high overall. That is why most garden offices have a flat roof at about this height.
- No verandas, balconies or raised platforms over 0.3 m.
- Outbuildings and extensions together must not cover more than half the land around the original house.
These are the general England limits for houses. Flats and maisonettes do not have these rights, and some Redbridge estates and conservation areas are different, so check with Redbridge Council before you order anything.
Building Regulations for garden rooms
A detached garden room under 15 m² with no sleeping accommodation is usually exempt from Building Regulations. Between 15 m² and 30 m² it is usually exempt if there is no sleeping accommodation and it is either at least 1 m from every boundary or built mainly of non-combustible materials. Anything larger, or anything with a bedroom, needs approval. Electrics are separate: a new circuit to the garden must meet Part P whatever size the building.
Bases, walls and insulation
The base matters more than people think. Options include a concrete slab, concrete pads with a timber frame, or ground screws, which suit tight gardens and tree roots. Walls are usually a timber frame with insulation, a breathable membrane and cladding outside, which might be timber, composite or render board. Insulated floors, walls and roof make the room usable in winter and stop condensation. Double-glazed doors and windows finish the shell. If you want a WC or shower, waste has to reach a drain, and that drives cost as much as size does.
How the build runs
We check access first, because many Ilford terraces have no side passage and everything comes through the house. Then we lay the base, build the frame, roof and walls, and fit the glazing. A qualified electrician runs a cable in a trench from the house, then we line, decorate and fit flooring from our Ilford shop.
Areas we cover
Ilford, Gants Hill, Barkingside, Seven Kings, Goodmayes, Chadwell Heath, Hainault, Woodford, Wanstead, Redbridge, Romford, Barking, Dagenham, Chigwell, Loughton, Newham and the rest of East London and Essex.
Questions people ask
How much does a garden room cost?
It depends on size, base, insulation, glazing, cladding and services. We survey for free and give an itemised quote.
Does a garden room need planning permission?
Often not, within permitted development height and use limits, but rules differ for flats, listed buildings and conservation areas. We check with your council first.
How high can a garden room be near the fence?
Under permitted development, no more than 2.5 m high overall if it is within 2 m of a boundary. Further away, up to 3 m with a flat roof or 4 m with a dual-pitched roof.
Can I sleep in a garden room?
Not under permitted development. Using it as a bedroom or separate home usually needs planning permission, and sleeping accommodation brings in Building Regulations.
Does a garden room need Building Regulations?
Usually not if it is under 15 m² with no sleeping accommodation. Larger rooms up to 30 m² can also be exempt if they meet boundary or materials conditions. Electrics still need to meet Part P.
Visit or contact us
SK Design & Construct Ltd, 6 Spurway Parade, Woodford Avenue, Ilford IG2 6UU. Call or WhatsApp 07774 944042 or email info@skdesignconstructltd.com. Registered in England and Wales, company number 16582978.