Shepherd’s huts can provide an amazing escape, whether nestled at the bottom of your garden or set amidst the freedom of the countryside. They hold so much potential, serving as everything from a home office to a rural retreat. But as serene as these spaces can be, there’s more to setting up a shepherd’s hut than simply buying or building the structure itself.
In this article, we’ll discuss where you can put a shepherd’s hut and how land use rules differ between residential, agricultural and commercial spaces. Continue reading to learn why you need planning permission for a shepherd’s hut, places you can locate your shepherd’s hut and how to obtain permission.
Guide to Shepherd’s Hut Planning Permission
You don’t always need planning permission for a shepherd’s hut; the type of land bears heavily on how you’re legally allowed to use your new space and whether you need to obtain official authorisation. Because shepherd’s huts are classed as caravans under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, they occupy a legal grey area due to their suitability for human habitation and ability to be moved from one place to another.
Before purchasing a pre-built model or a self-build kit, we recommend checking with your local authority whether you need planning permission for your shepherd’s hut plans and what this may entail. First, contact your council for an informal assessment to gauge their attitude toward your project. If they seem receptive to the idea, then submit a formal application via the Planning Portal. For this, you will need detailed information regarding the site, design and intended use.
Where Can You Put a Shepherd’s Hut?
Here are five types of land where you can site and use a shepherd’s hut, ranging from the simple to the highly restricted:
Domestic Curtilage
Residential gardens are a popular choice for people considering shepherd’s hut plans, with ‘curtilage’ meaning the closely associated land around a house. Under permitted development rights, private property owners are generally allowed a shepherd’s hut for their gardens without planning permission. However, the space must be for your household’s own enjoyment; renting your shepherd’s hut, whether part-time or full-time, changes the use of the land and requires authorisation from your council.
Agricultural Land
Rolling hills and green fields make for peaceful shepherd’s hut settings, but planning law around farmland is fairly strict. If you wish to use agricultural land for tourism rather than farming, you will need to submit a planning application. There is an exception in accommodating seasonal workers, however: if you plan to use the structure to house farm employees during harvest season, you may be able to move ahead with your shepherd’s hut plans provided you remove or cease to use it at all other times.
Designated Land
You also need planning permission for a shepherd’s hut in a conservation area, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) or a national park, even on your own private land. If the structure is visible from public spaces or affects the character of the area, the legal hurdles will likely be higher. Planners will heavily scrutinise your design and choice of materials, as well as whether your hut could generate extra traffic as a rented or otherwise commercial space.
Forestry and Woodland
Forestry and woodland follow similar rules to agricultural land. If your shepherd’s hut plans involve using the structure for maintaining and managing woodland or timber, such as a tool shed, then it may fall under Part 7 of the General Permitted Development Order 1995. However, use for holidays, whether your own or tourists’, will require a full shepherd’s hut planning permission application. Planners will assess the potential impact on local wildlife, including how you intend to manage waste and water.
Commercial Curtilage
Hospitality businesses such as hotels and pubs sometimes use shepherd’s huts to expand their room capacity and create unique tourist experiences. If you are a business owner with such shepherd’s hut plans, you will need permission from local planners. Even though the primary land use is already commercial, adding a hut constitutes a material change or an intensification of that use. Since your venture is likely to boost the local tourism economy and support other businesses, your application stands a good chance of being approved.
Need Support with Your Shepherd’s Hut Plans?
While planning permission for shepherd’s huts can vary depending on their intended use and location, there are plenty of ways to create a space that works within your local regulations without compromising your specific needs.
Designed with flexibility in mind, our frames are manufactured from sustainable materials and provide a durable foundation for a wide range of layouts and finishes. Engineered for straightforward assembly, even customers without extensive DIY experience will be able to construct their frame within an hour.
For more information on building a shepherd’s hut frame, or for design inspiration to help bring your vision to life, please refer to our self-build guides or contact our design team for more insights.