With the need for additional working and living spaces being increased, many of our customers are looking to add a bathroom to their garden studio. Here we look at the key considerations in doing so.
Key Considerations
- Planning Permission:
Most garden rooms fall under “permitted development” rights, which means you can build them without a planning application. Adding a bathroom to a garden studio is perfectly acceptable without planning permission as long as the studio is under 30sqm and not considered for habitable use.
Any studio space that become habitable will require both planning permission and building control sign off. As will any studio over 30 square meters or 2.5m tall, depending on the location.
- Building Regulations:
It is key that the studio is an ancillary use to the main property otherwise building control will be required to sign off all of the work. Home offices and gyms can benefit from a non-habitable status and avoid the need for Control to sign off. That said all work including water connection, plumbing and any sewer work must be handled by a qualified professional. It is also key to know if you are connection to a private manhole or not. Any public connection will need permission.
- Costs to consider:
The biggest expense is usually the water and waste connections from the sewer to the studio itself. They will require a trench to be dug and in some cases pumps to ensure any lack of decent fall can be overcome and ensure all waste is pumped away effectively.
Benefits of Adding a Bathroom:
Adding a toilet or full bathroom opens up the possibility and use of the garden studio. Working from home can mean a required separation of space and therefore all services in one area means a space to work from without interruption. A gym garden studio would benefit from a shower room and toilet for the same reason, as the entire workout and shower down are all from the same space.
A garden annex with a shower room and toilet also serves as a great space for guest and family accommodation. All without the need to leave the space.
Having a bathroom also adds a significant value to the space and the overall property meaning a huge return of investment for the project long term.
- Conclusion:
Adding either a WC or better still a full bathroom to your garden studio is a great option. It adds versatility as well as a greater market value to the space. Many home buyers look for a garden office with these kinds of facilities. The studio can be made as a fully habitable annex and benefit from a full building control sign off or be made under permitted development rules and serve as a gym or office space.
The costs are increased vs a regular garden studio but the benefits and return of investment are huge.
Ark design build are a well established garden studio company with over 130 five star reviews
Below are links to a gallery of our work across the south east as well as a link to our reviews. Which number over 100 all at 5 star.
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/arkdesignbuild.co.uk
https://arkdesignbuild.co.uk/case-study-family-annex-in-paddock-wood-tunbridge-wells-kent/
