Garden rooms and outbuildings in Durham

All of Durham

4,573 applications since 2016. 3,448 approved and 126 refused. Refused: about 1 in 28 here, about 1 in 7 across the councils we cover.

Last updated 8 November 2026.

Without planning permission

  • Single storey, not in front of the house
  • No higher than 2.5 m within 2 m of a boundary; otherwise 4 m with a dual-pitched roof or 3 m any other
  • Together with other buildings, no more than half the garden and grounds
  • For use incidental to the house, not a separate home

England, houses only. Flats, listed buildings, conservation areas and Article 4 directions change this. The full rules.

Year by year

YearApplicationsApprovedRefused
2026259266
20253246314
202430710514
202338131920
202244339413
202157349711
20204764169
201946340810
201841237213
20174784369
20164574127

Architects and agents, last 5 years

FirmApprovedDecided
Glasper Lee Design Ltd2527
DH Drawings Ltd2223
Colling Morris Architectural Services Ltd2123
Ryder Architects1819
Ramshaw Architecture1616
Aspect Design1111
Cummings Architects Ltd1111
Dark Skies Design1111
Maria Ferguson Planning Limited1111
CR Design Services911

Neighbouring councils

CouncilApprovedRefusedHow often
Darlington 1,603 73 about 1 in 23
Gateshead 1,027 64 about 1 in 17
Hartlepool 2 0 none
Stockton-on-Tees 1,224 44 about 1 in 29
Westmorland and Furness 7 0 none
Yorkshire Dales 547 47 about 1 in 13

Other projects in Durham