Expert Advice

Garden greenhouses compared: glass passes 90% of light, twin-wall polycarbonate 80%, plus vent area, base and the 2.5m boundary rule.

A garden shelter can be open sided or fully roofed. Six types compared, plus the 2.5m height rule that decides whether you need planning permission.

Garden trellis panels count towards your fence height, so a 1.8m fence plus a topper needs permission. Sizes, timber spec and fixing, explained properly.

Wooden garden gates last when posts are Use Class 4 and the brace runs the right way. Sizing a side gate, hinges, and the 1m height rule beside roads.

A two-seater garden arbour is about 1.2m to 1.6m wide and 2m tall. Wood or metal, where to site it, fixing it down, planning limits and what to grow.

A garden arch needs about 2.7m of height so climbers do not hang in your face. Wood or metal, post depths, planning limits and what to grow over it.

A garden gazebo is usually permitted development, but only 2.5m within 2m of a boundary and 4m overall. The UK rules, bases and what actually lasts.

Do I need planning permission for a garden shed? Usually not: under 2.5m tall near a boundary, behind the house, under half the garden. The exceptions.

A garden room bedroom loses permitted development and the building regs exemption. The Class 6 wording, the annexe line and the 10-year enforcement risk.

Garden rooms London buyers can actually build: six companies covering the capital, the 2.5m boundary height limit, and the Article 4 trap that removes it.