If you have your own land upon which you are considering siting a lodge, the following information regarding planning and building reguilations will be helpful.

Will I require planning permission?

Generally the answer is yes but there are certain limited circumstances in which it may not be necessary.

Planning is regulated by your local planning authority (LPA) - usually the district or borouch council. Each authority operates a set of rules which govern what can be built withouth requiring permission. These rules come under what is called permitted development (GPD) 2008 Part 1, Class E) and whilst they differ between authorities the following rules as an example are employed by the Dorset County Council.

Planning permission is not required if the lodge is ancillary to the main dwelling ( so for example the residents make use of the main dwelling in some way, could be meals, and share some services, water, electric, waste ) and takes less than 50% of the existing plot ( excluding the space occupied by the original dwelling ) and is under 4 metres high and is sited 2.5 metres or more from the boundary.

It is the best to contact the LPA who will if requested visit and provide a free assesement as to whether planning permission is required.

Will the lodge need to comply with building regulations?

All of our homes and lodges are built as standard to BS 3632 residential compliance. The extent to which this is a satisfactory to the planners will depend on the views of the specific authority. In the event that they do require a full building regulation compliance, we can modify the lodge accordingly.

Will the lodge need to comply with building regulations?

• Contact your LPA to arrange their free visit to assess your proposed addition.
• If planning permission is required they will be able to send an application pack containing all the information you will need.
• Wessex will be happy to supply supporting technical information of our lodge to assist the application.