Planning Permission For Portable Buildings: Do You Need It?

Portable and modular cabins for hire or sale are an ideal solution for businesses, schools, developers or healthcare providers who are in need of additional affordable space. They can provide flexible extra room within a much shorter timeframe than a traditional building. However, it is still important to consider the question of planning permission.

There are several factors that will affect the answer to this question. Here’s what you need to know. Remember that it is always best practice to check with your local authority before installing any permanent or temporary new structure, because rules may change or vary slightly between different planning authorities.

When do you need planning permission?

Is the cabin intended for temporary or permanent use?

In general, if a portable building is intended to be in place for less than 28 days and the surface area of the building is smaller than 100m2, planning permission will usually not be required. For a duration of over 28 days, it is likely that you will require planning permission.

There may be some exceptions if you are using the cabin to extend an existing structure, and the cabin is shorter in height and less than 25 per cent of the volume of the existing building. The use of the portable cabin will also be taken into account: it should be directly relevant to the purpose of the original building.

In summary, if the portable cabin is small and will be in place for 28 days or fewer, then you might not require formal approval.

Permitted Development Rights

In some cases, the portable building might fall within permitted development rights, and are therefore exempted from planning permission. This might include temporary cabins on construction sites, such as welfare facilities or marketing suites. It might also include short-term site offices or extensions to pre-existing buildings.

However, it’s advisable to always confirm the situation with your local planning authority before going ahead with any new installation, because failure to obtain the correct permissions could result in enforcement action being taken. This will waste time and resources, and reflect poorly on the reputation of your business or organisation.

Consider the overall impact of the cabin

Local planning authorities will take into account the overall impact the portable building has on the surrounding area, particularly if it has a large footprint. For example, does it impact access to roads or other infrastructure or buildings? They may also take into account the visual impact, particularly if it is located in a scenic place.

If the portable building will be positioned near to a listed building, or is within a conservation area or greenbelt land, then planning permission will be required in the majority of cases.

How to apply for planning permission

If you are renting or buying a modular or portable building from a reputable supplier, they will have plenty of knowledge and prior experience of planning permission rules and regulations, and will be happy to advise you.

Preparing the documents might require working with third parties such as builders or design teams. You will need detailed site plans and information about the surrounding area, as well as various certificates, forms and statements. Factor in the time it will take to do this as well as any additional costs.

You will also need to pay a processing fee to the local authority, which will vary depending on the size and scale of the plans. Allow for at least eight to 12 weeks for the application process to be completed. If you need to install a portable building for an urgent purpose, you can apply for retrospective approval.

However, you will need to demonstrate that the need was essential and delay was not an option. If the local authority is not satisfied with your application, they will have the power to issue an enforcement notice and if necessary follow this up with further legal action.

It is a good idea to have an informal discussion with your local authority before submitting your application, so that you can have a clear understanding of the specific regulations in your area, and gauge how likely you are to succeed in obtaining permission.