Guides
Plain-English guides.
What we tell clients when they ask. Planning and regulations, cost context, comparisons between options, and how-tos. Written to inform, not to sell.
Planning & regulations
Planning & regulations
- 01
Garden planning permission in Wiltshire: the complete reference
Wiltshire Council is the local planning authority and the highways authority for most of the area we cover, so garden projects here follow the national rules ap
Read - 02
High hedges and the law: the 2 metre rule
A high hedge, in law, is a line of two or more mostly-evergreen trees or shrubs over 2 metres tall that blocks light or access. Under Part 8 of the Anti-social
Read - 03
Party walls and garden projects: when the Party Wall Act applies
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can apply to garden work that affects a shared structure or a neighbour's foundations. It is most relevant when you build on or int
Read - 04
Listed buildings and garden work: what needs consent
When a building is listed, the protection can extend beyond the house to walls, outbuildings, gates and other structures within its curtilage, particularly thos
Read - 05
Garden planning permission in the Cotswolds National Landscape: the complete reference
The Cotswolds is a National Landscape, which is designated land, so permitted-development rights for garden projects are more restricted than in an ordinary loc
Read - 06
Protected species and garden ponds: newts, wildlife and the law
Some species you might find around water, great crested newts in particular, are protected by law, and it is an offence to harm them or damage their habitat. If
Read - 07
Do garden rooms need building regulations approval?
Building regulations are separate from planning permission, and they catch garden rooms by size and use. A detached garden room with a floor area under 15 squar
Read - 08
Working near protected trees: TPOs and conservation areas
Two things protect trees, and both apply before garden work near them. A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) means you must apply to the council for consent before pr
Read - 09
SuDS and garden drainage: keeping water on your land
Sustainable drainage, often shortened to SuDS, means managing rainwater where it falls so it soaks away on your own land rather than overloading the road and th
Read - 10
Do you need planning permission for decking?
In England, garden decking is permitted development and needs no planning permission as long as the deck stands no more than 0.3 metres above the natural ground
Read - 11
Do you need planning permission for a dropped kerb in Wiltshire?
Lowering a kerb to create a vehicle crossover is dealt with under highways legislation, not planning. In our area you apply to Wiltshire Council for a vehicle c
Read - 12
Do you need planning permission for a garden room or office?
A garden room or garden office is usually permitted development and needs no planning permission, provided it is single storey, sits behind the principal elevat
Read - 13
Do you need planning permission for a pergola or gazebo?
A freestanding pergola, gazebo or veranda is normally treated as an outbuilding under permitted development, so it needs no planning permission if it is single
Read - 14
How high can a garden wall or fence be without planning permission?
In England you can build or replace a garden wall, fence or gate up to 2 metres high without planning permission, with one important exception: if it is next to
Read - 15
Do you need planning permission for garden projects in Wiltshire and the Cotswolds?
Most domestic garden work in England is permitted development and needs no planning application. You generally need permission when a structure exceeds the perm
Read - 16
Do you need planning permission for a driveway?
In England you do not need planning permission for a new or replacement driveway of any size if it uses a permeable surface such as gravel, permeable block pavi
Read
Cost & budgeting
Cost & budgeting
- 01
How much does a driveway cost?
Driveway cost depends most on the surface and the state of the existing base. Resin-bound, block paving, gravel and the rest sit at different points, and the bi
Read - 02
How much does decking cost?
Decking cost is best understood by the relative order of the materials rather than a single figure, because it ranges widely with the board and the structure, a
Read - 03
How much does a patio cost?
A patio is priced on the material, the groundwork and the site, not a flat rate. The sub-base, the levels, the drainage and the access affect the cost as much a
Read - 04
How much does a natural swimming pond cost?
A natural swimming pond is a significant, bespoke project, and there is no single price that means anything in advance: the cost is driven by the size, the cons
Read - 05
How much does an outdoor kitchen cost?
An outdoor kitchen covers a wide range, from a built-in grill and a run of worktop to a full second kitchen under a covered structure, so it is priced on the de
Read - 06
How much does a garden room cost?
A bespoke garden room is built for the site and to last, so there is no off-the-shelf price: the cost depends on the size, the insulation and glazing, the servi
Read - 07
How much does Cotswold stone walling cost?
Stone walling is priced on the wall: the type of stone, whether it is dry-laid or mortared, the height and the access, and whether it is a new build or a repair
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Comparisons
Comparisons
- 01
Porcelain vs Indian sandstone: which patio is right for you?
Both make excellent patios, and the right one depends on the look you want and how much maintenance you will tolerate. Porcelain is the low-maintenance, contemp
Read - 02
Resin bound vs resin bonded: what is the difference?
They sound the same and are constantly confused, but they are different products. Resin bound mixes aggregate and resin together and trowels it on as a smooth,
Read - 03
Composite vs timber decking: which should you choose?
Timber decking costs less to buy and gives you real wood, but it needs regular cleaning, oiling or staining and will not last as long. Composite decking costs m
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How-to & explainers
How-to & explainers
- 01
What can you plant in clay soil, and how do you improve it?
Clay soil holds water and nutrients well but is heavy, slow to drain and slow to warm, and it bakes hard and cracks in summer. The answer is not to fight it but
Read - 02
What does a garden design and build project involve?
A garden design and build project runs in clear stages. It starts with a consultation and a proper site survey, moves into a concept and detailed design with dr
Read - 03
What grows in chalky and limestone soil?
Chalk and Cotswold limestone soils are thin, stony, free-draining and alkaline, so they warm quickly and rarely waterlog but dry out fast and hold little. The a
Read - 04
Is a garden office tax deductible?
This is general information, not financial advice, and the position depends entirely on your circumstances, so speak to a qualified accountant. In general terms
Read - 05
Outdoor kitchen gas and electrical safety: what you need to know
An outdoor kitchen brings gas, electricity and often water together outdoors, so the safety rules matter more than people expect. Any gas work, a built-in grill
Read - 06
Japanese knotweed and the law: what you need to know
Owning Japanese knotweed is not illegal, but you must not allow it to spread off your land. Doing so can lead to a fine of up to 5,000 pounds or more, enforced
Read - 07
What is a Certified Aquascape Contractor, and why does it matter?
A Certified Aquascape Contractor is a landscaper trained and certified by Aquascape, the company behind the ecosystem pond system, to design and build their pon
Read - 08
Do you need a garden designer and a landscaper, or can one firm do both?
There are two routes to a designed garden. A design-only garden designer draws the scheme and hands it to a separate landscaper to build, or one firm designs th
Read - 09
Permitted development on designated land: the Cotswolds, National Landscapes and conservation areas
Designated land means a National Landscape (the current name for an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which includes the Cotswolds), a conservation area, a Na
Read - 10
What is a lawful development certificate, and do you need one?
A lawful development certificate is a formal decision from the council confirming that your project is lawful, either because it is permitted development or bec
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