SketchPlan Home GuidesGet the planning checker
For homeowners in England planning a shed, garden room, porch, conservatory or small extension

Can I build it without getting stuck? A drawn planning checker before you call the trades

This illustrated PDF helps you understand the questions councils usually care about: your property type, boundaries, height, position, use, previous changes and permitted development clues. It shows when a project may be straightforward, when it needs closer checking, and when council advice is the sensible next step.

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Secure checkout, PDF sent by email, and a 7-day refund guarantee.

Built around real home projects

Covers sheds, garden offices, outbuildings, porches, conservatories and small extensions, instead of making you decode planning pages written for every type of development.

Drawn decision checks

Simple diagrams help you think about position, boundaries, height, use, roof shape, front elevations and the places where rules often change.

Know when to ask before spending

The guide cannot approve your project, but it helps you spot the questions to settle before you pay for drawings, materials or a builder’s start date.

See the kind of pages you will use

The guide is designed as a visual checker, with short explanations, labelled house diagrams, decision prompts and practical notes for common home projects in England.

Permission Or PDArticle Four ChecksHeight And BoundariesMaterials Near HouseParty Wall PointersDescribe The Use

Sample pages are representative of the guide’s layout and level of detail; final checks should always be made against your local council’s guidance.

You only wanted a simple build. Then the doubts start.

You imagine the garden office at the back of the house, or the porch that would finally stop the hallway filling with shoes and coats.

You search online and find a tangle of phrases: permitted development, prior approval, Article 4, designated land, building regulations, lawful development certificate.

One page seems to say your project is fine. Another warns that height, distance from a boundary, previous extensions or the position at the front of the house can change everything.

A tradesperson asks whether you have checked planning. A neighbour mentions someone nearby had to change their plans. Suddenly a small home project feels risky.

You are not trying to bend the rules. You just need a plain-English way to work out what to check before you spend money — and the confusion is not your fault.

From council-page fog to a usable checklist

What you usually find

  • Dense planning guidance written for many situations at once.
  • Long lists of exceptions with no easy way to apply them to your project.
  • Uncertainty about whether you need planning permission, a permitted development check or council advice.

Permitted development rights for householders are subject to limitations and conditions and may be removed or restricted by local designations, previous permissions, property type, location, external materials, principal elevation considerations, boundary relationships and intended use. Where any proposal falls outside the relevant criteria, or where the planning history of the site is unclear, applicants should seek confirmation from the local planning authority before commencing development.

What this guide gives you

  • A project-by-project route through the questions that matter most.
  • Illustrated examples showing where common problems appear around a house and garden.
  • A final decision checklist to help you prepare sensible questions for your council or designer.

A complete route through the decision

The guide moves from basic property checks to project-specific pages, then finishes with council contact notes and a build-ready checklist you can use before speaking to trades.

IStart Here: How Planning Checks Work

  • Planning permission versus permitted development
  • Why building regulations are a separate question
  • What a lawful development certificate is for
  • Why local councils can apply different restrictions
  • How to use the guide without treating it as legal advice

IIYour Property: The First Things to Confirm

  • House, flat, maisonette and converted property differences
  • Conservation areas and other designated locations
  • Article 4 directions and local restrictions
  • Previous extensions and planning history
  • Leasehold, covenant and estate rule reminders
  • Where to find your local planning authority

IIISheds, Outbuildings and Garden Rooms

  • Sheds, workshops and storage buildings
  • Garden offices and studios
  • Outbuilding position in front, side and rear gardens
  • Boundary and roof height checks
  • Incidental use versus separate living accommodation
  • Raised platforms, decking and bases
  • Services, toilets and overnight use warning signs

IVPorches, Conservatories and Small Extensions

  • Front porch planning checks
  • Rear extension position and depth questions
  • Side extension red flags
  • Conservatory and sunroom considerations
  • Materials and appearance near the main house
  • Roof forms, eaves and neighbour impact
  • When prior approval may become relevant

VNeighbours, Boundaries and Everyday Red Flags

  • Close-to-boundary building questions
  • Overlooking, overshadowing and outlook concerns
  • Front elevation and highway-facing changes
  • Trees, drains and shared access reminders
  • Party wall and boundary ownership pointers
  • Noise, business use and frequent visitors
  • What to photograph before asking for advice

VIWhen to Ask the Council

  • When informal guidance may be enough to start a conversation
  • When a lawful development certificate is worth considering
  • What to include in an enquiry
  • Basic sketch and photo checklist
  • How to describe your proposed use
  • Keeping written confirmation for your records

VIIYour Build-Ready Decision Checklist

  • Project summary sheet
  • Property restriction checklist
  • Position, height and use prompts
  • Questions to ask a designer or builder
  • Council contact notes page
  • Decision paths: proceed, check further or apply
  • Document folder checklist

Picture the same project with the right checks in front of you

You sit down with your rough idea and work through the guide one section at a time.

First, you confirm the basics: where the property is, what type of home it is, whether special local restrictions may apply, and what has already been changed.

Then you turn to the right project pages and look at the diagrams for position, boundaries, roof shape, use and the areas councils commonly question.

Instead of asking a vague question online, you can write a short list of specific points to confirm with your council, designer or builder.

You may still need formal permission or professional input, but you are no longer starting from a blank page.

Get the planning checker

What is inside the guide

I

Start Here: How Planning Checks Work

This opening section explains the difference between planning permission, permitted development, building regulations and informal council guidance. After it, you can separate the main approval questions instead of treating them as one confusing hurdle.

II

Your Property: The First Things to Confirm

This part helps you gather the details that can change the answer before you even choose a design. After it, you can check whether your home has obvious factors that need extra care.

III

Sheds, Outbuildings and Garden Rooms

This section focuses on garden buildings, from tool sheds to insulated workspaces. After it, you can spot the planning questions around placement, height, use and garden coverage.

IV

Porches, Conservatories and Small Extensions

This part explains the everyday extension projects that often look simple but still need careful checking. After it, you can compare your idea against the common triggers for permission or closer advice.

V

Neighbours, Boundaries and Everyday Red Flags

This section shows the practical site issues that can turn a simple plan into a more sensitive proposal. After it, you can walk around your property and mark the areas that deserve careful thought.

VI

When to Ask the Council

This part helps you decide when a quick online read is not enough. After it, you can approach your local planning authority with clearer notes, better sketches and more useful questions.

VII

Your Build-Ready Decision Checklist

The final part brings the guide together into a step-by-step checklist before you commit to the next stage. After it, you can decide whether to proceed, pause for council advice, or get formal help.

The guide ends with a simple decision sheet so you can leave with a clearer next step rather than a pile of open tabs.

Plus, included free

Property Clues Checklist
A quick visual checklist for spotting conservation area notes, listed building clues, shared access, covenants to query, and other details before you sketch a project.
Free with your purchase · 4 pages
Neighbour-Friendly Project Notes
A practical cheat sheet for recording boundaries, overlooking, noise, access and polite talking points before work begins.
Free with your purchase · 5 pages
Build-Readiness Planner
A simple short plan for organising photos, measurements, questions and council contact notes so your next step is easier to choose.
Free with your purchase · 6 pages
Get the guide and the bonuses

Is this guide right for you?

Yes, if you want to

  • Check a shed, garden room, porch, conservatory or small extension before booking work.
  • Understand the planning words you keep seeing on council and government pages.
  • Prepare better questions for your local council, designer or builder.
  • Avoid spending on a project before you have checked the obvious planning issues.

No, if you need

  • A formal planning decision or legal opinion for your property.
  • Architectural drawings, structural calculations or building regulations approval.
  • A guide for large extensions, new houses, listed building works or commercial development.

What you receive

Can I Build It? A Drawn UK Planning Permission Checker

  • The full illustrated PDF guide, Can I Build It?
  • Project check pages for sheds, garden rooms, porches, conservatories and small extensions.
  • Plain-English explanations of common planning terms and council decision points.
  • Printable decision checklists for notes, photos and council questions.
  • Email delivery to the address used at checkout.

Get the complete PDF guide

US$ 38

Get the planning checker

The guide arrives by email within a few hours of the purchase, sent to the email address you enter at checkout.

7-day refund guarantee

You have 7 days to read through the guide. If it is not useful for planning your next step, email us within 7 days and you will receive a full refund to your original payment method.

Questions before you buy

What format is the guide?

It is a PDF guide with illustrated pages, checklists and plain-English explanations. You can open it on most phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers.

When will I receive it?

The PDF is sent by email within a few hours of the purchase. Please check the email address used at checkout and look in your junk or spam folder if it has not appeared.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. The guide can be read on a phone, although the diagrams and checklists are easier to use on a tablet, laptop or printed pages.

Is this legal advice?

No. It is a practical homeowner guide to help you understand what to check and what to ask. Planning rules vary by property, location and history, so final confirmation should come from your local planning authority or a suitably qualified professional.

Is it for all of the UK?

No. It is written for homeowners in England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own planning rules, so this guide is not meant for properties there.

Can I print it?

Yes. You can print the pages you want to mark up, especially the project checklist, photo notes and council question pages.

Is it suitable for complete beginners?

Yes. It starts with the basic difference between planning permission, permitted development and building regulations, then moves into project-specific checks.

What if I am not happy with it?

There is a 7-day refund guarantee. If the guide is not useful for you, email within 7 days and you will receive a full refund.

Check before the project becomes expensive

If you are still at the idea stage, this is a calm way to understand the likely planning questions before you commit to trades, drawings or materials.

Get the planning checker

Secure checkout, PDF sent by email, and a 7-day refund guarantee.