Do I Need Planning Permission for a Shepherd’s Hut?

Designing and installing your own Funky Hut is an exciting process, but it’s crucial to understand the planning requirements. Something we are often asked is “Do I need planning permission for a shepherd’s hut?”

Disclaimer: We are not planning consultants. This information has been compiled for general guidance to help determine if planning permission is needed in general cases. For specific advice, please consult a planning consultant or your local authority.

What is a Shepherd’s Hut?

For centuries, these small but mighty huts have had traditional uses in farming. However, today they are more commonly used as glamping accommodation, guest accommodation, or home offices. With the glamping industry in the UK estimated to be worth over £3.5 billion, demand for Shepherd’s Huts is greater than ever.

When Will You Need Planning Permission?

So, do you need planning permission for a shepherd’s hut? Since our Shepherd’s Huts are built on wheels, they are not classed as a permanent structure, so the most common answer here is no. However, depending on its location and intended use, you may need planning permission. Here are some scenarios where planning permission might be required:

• Commercial Use: Renting out for accommodation (e.g., Airbnb)

• Non-Residential Land: Situating the hut on land used for agricultural or equestrian purposes

• Designated Areas: If located in a conservation area, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), or other designated areas

• Listed Buildings: If located within the grounds of a listed building

• Non-Conformity with Permitted Development Rights: These rights allow homeowners to improve and extend their homes without planning permission. Non-conformity with the regulations can mean permission is needed. (Visit gov.uk for more info)

This list is not exhaustive, and there may be additional scenarios where planning permission is required. Therefore, we recommend speaking with your local planning department or local authority for specific guidance.

Having a Shepherd’s Hut for Personal Use

Having a Shepherd’s Hut in your garden is a great option for a home office, garden room, or even your own Sol Sauna. Most of the time, planning isn’t a concern. Here are the Permitted Development Rights for homeowners:

• Personal Use: The hut must be ancillary to the main property and not used as the main residential space. It can be used for purposes such as a home office or guest bedroom but not to generate rental income. It must be used for a purpose that is ‘incidental to the enjoyment of the main dwelling’.

• Location: The hut must be positioned in the same grounds as the house, not on neighbouring land.

• Positioning: The hut must not be placed in front of your house; it must be in the back or side garden.

• Height and Size Restrictions: If within 2m of the property boundary, the maximum height and floor area are restricted.

• Land Coverage: The hut must not cover more than 50% of the total land area of the property.

If you are considering a Funky Hut in your garden, you will most likely fall within the Permitted Development Rights and therefore not require planning permission.

To summarise, you may not have the standard Permitted Development Rights if your residential home falls into one of the following categories:

• Conservation areas

• Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

• National Parks

• World Heritage Sites

• Listed Buildings

Do I Need Planning Permission for a Shepherd’s Hut if I Want to Rent it Out?

Many of our customers want a Shepherd’s Hut to rent out for income generation, and we can see why! Funky Huts make the perfect UK escape, but planning permission is a common question.

The Shepherd’s Hut itself does not inherently require planning permission as it is not considered a permanent structure. However, using it for commercial purposes, such as renting it as holiday accommodation, may require planning permission.

If you plan to rent it out for more than 28 days per year to generate income, you’ll likely need full planning permission or an exemption. Companies affiliated with the Caravan and Glamping Associations can assist with exemption applications, typically for setups involving multiple huts. For legal compliance, you’ll need to apply to your local council, and it’s advisable to engage a planning consultant to guide you through the process.

Can Funky Huts Support with My Planning Permission?

Planning permission can be complex, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. At Funky Huts, we support you at every stage, from initial consultation right through to delivery. 

We guide and advise you throughout the entire journey, from initial design to full planning application. Our services include detailed drawings and expert advice to ensure your plans get off the ground smoothly.

Take the first step towards making your dream Shepherd’s Hut a reality. Give us a call today on 07900987407 or contact us here

Unlock your home’s potential: 5 innovative Shepherd’s Hut uses

Shepherd’s Huts are charming, versatile spaces that add a touch of rustic elegance to any property. At Funky Huts, we specialise in designing bespoke Shepherd’s Huts that cater to our customers’ diverse needs. A Funky Hut can truly enhance the functionality and aesthetic of your home and garden.

Here are the top 5 innovative ways to utilise a Shepherd’s Hut to extend the use of your home:

Home Office Retreat

In the UK, an estimated 16% of employed workers are working from home, and 87% of freelancers are home based also. As a result, many homeowners are looking for alternatives to adding costly, permanent extensions to their homes.

Creating a dedicated workspace is essential for productivity and work-life balance and adding a purpose designed Shepherd’s Hut can provide the perfect solution for a tranquil, private office space right in your back garden. With ample natural light and customised interiors, you can design a workspace that boosts quiet and focus. The separation from the main house also helps in maintaining a clear boundary between work and personal life.

Guest Accommodation

Transforming a shepherd’s hut into a cosy guesthouse is a fantastic way to provide your visitors with a unique and comfortable experience without compromising your current living space. Equipped with essential amenities such as a bed, kitchenette, and bathroom, your guests will enjoy privacy and luxury. This option is particularly beneficial for hosting friends and family where inside space is lacking but garden space is not.  And when you don’t have guests, you can consider renting out for income generation.

Creative Studio

Whether you’re an artist, writer, or musician, having a dedicated space to nurture your creativity is invaluable. A shepherd’s hut can be tailored to serve as an inspiring studio where you can indulge in your passion without distractions. With bespoke features like soundproofing, specialised lighting, and ample storage for your materials, this space can become your personal sanctuary for creative pursuits.

Wellness Retreat

Incorporating wellness into your daily routine is crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and what better way to do this than by having a private wellness retreat at home? Our Sol Sauna shepherd’s hut is the epitome of relaxation and rejuvenation. Designed with traditional sauna features and modern comforts, the Sol Sauna offers a perfect escape to unwind and detox.

Children’s Playroom

A shepherd’s hut can be converted into a magical playroom for your children, providing them with a safe and stimulating environment to play, learn, and explore. Customised to include vibrant decor, educational toys, and comfortable seating, this space can become their favourite spot to engage in imaginative play. It also helps connect children with nature whilst keeping the main house tidy by allowing children a designated area for their activities. As they grow, you can adapt the space to suit their hobbies; install a reading area or gaming station.

Why Choose Funky Huts?

At Funky Huts, we pride ourselves on creating high-quality, bespoke shepherd’s huts that cater to your specific needs and preferences. Each hut is crafted with precision and care, ensuring it is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Our team works closely with you to design a space that seamlessly integrates into your home environment, adding value and versatility to your property.

Visit www.funkyhuts.co.uk to discover more about our products and services. Transform your home with the charm and functionality of a bespoke shepherd’s hut today!

Wellbeing Benefits of Using a Sauna

In today’s fast-paced world, finding time to relax and recuperate is more important than ever. One effective way to enhance your wellbeing is by incorporating regular sauna sessions into your routine. With the Sol Sauna Hut from Funky Huts, you can bring the numerous wellbeing benefits of using a sauna right to your back garden.

The Sol Sauna Hut: Your Personal Wellness Retreat

Our Sol Sauna is designed to offer you a luxurious and therapeutic sauna experience. This stunningly crafted hut is not only a great addition to your outdoor space but also a powerful tool to enhance your overall health and wellbeing.

Wellbeing Benefits of Using a Sauna

1. Detoxification: Sweating is one of the body’s most natural methods of eliminating toxins. The high heat in a sauna induces sweating, which helps to flush toxins from the body, promoting overall detoxification.
2. Improved Circulation: The heat from the sauna causes blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow and improving circulation. This can help reduce muscle soreness and speed up recovery after intense workouts.
3. Stress Relief: Regular use can reduce your stress levels as the heat relaxes muscles and relieves tension. In addition, the quiet, meditative environment can help to calm the mind.
4. Better Sleep: The relaxation and stress reduction enhanced in a sauna can help you fall asleep faster and enjoy a more restorative sleep.
5. Enhanced Immune System: The heat reached in a sauna stimulates the production of white blood cells, which are crucial for fighting off infections. Regular sauna use can also help boost your immune system.
6. Skin Health: The sweating induced by the sauna opens-up pores and helps to remove impurities, leading to clearer and healthier skin.

Why Choose the Sol Sauna Hut?

The Sol Sauna Hut from Funky Huts stands out for several reasons:

• Quality Craftsmanship: Made from high-quality thermo treated aspen and cedar, the Sol Sauna Hut is built to last and provides an exceptional sauna experience. We install a 9kw Huum Drop sauna system which provides a long-lasting steam due to its capacity, despite its compact design.

• Aesthetic Appeal: With its stylish design, the Sol Sauna Hut adds a touch of elegance to any outdoor space.

• Ease of Use: Designed with user convenience in mind, the Sol Sauna Hut is easy to assemble and operate.

• Wellbeing and Health Benefits: The numerous health benefits of regular sauna use make the Sol Sauna Hut a worthwhile investment in your wellbeing.

Conclusion

Investing in a Sol Sauna Hut is not just about adding a beautiful structure to your garden; it’s about investing in your health and wellbeing. The myriad benefits of regular sauna sessions, from detoxification to stress relief, make the Sol Sauna Hut a desirable addition to a healthy lifestyle.

Learn more about the Sol Sauna Hut here, and start your journey towards better health and relaxation.

To find out more about the Huum system we use, click here

Funky Huts at Park Fair in the Cotswolds

In June, Funky Huts attended Park Fair in the Cotswolds for the second year running.

We were thrilled to return to Park Fair with our Sonny Hut and to share, for the first time, our new Sol Sauna Hut in all its glory.

About Park Fair

Set in the picturesque grounds of Great Tew Estate, Park Fair was an ideal opportunity to unveil our Sol Sauna and connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for wellness and outdoor living.

One of the highlights of our time at Park Fair was engaging with the diverse and enthusiastic community that welcome us every time. We had the pleasure of meeting other local businesses and seeing some familiar and returning faces across the weekend.

The Sol Sauna Hut

Visitors had the chance to step inside and experience the luxurious design and craftsmanship of our Sol Sauna Hut first-hand and it truly stood out. In fact, the sauna sold on the last day, and we can’t wait to deliver it to its new location in Buckinghamshire later this month.

The Sonny Hut

The Sonny Hut hosted hundreds of visitors each day, all fawning over its tardis-like charm and luxury interiors. The Sonny Hut is our largest signature hut, with space for a double bed, kitchen area, bathroom and dining nook.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who visited our Funky Huts. The feedback we received was glowing and we’ve never been busier! Your support and interest mean the world to us.

If you missed Park Fair, don’t worry! We have plenty of information on our Sol Sauna Hut here and on our Instagram! Follow us to stay up to date on our current builds, new releases and events coming up!

Considerations when Designing your Funky Hut

We take pride in our simple and enjoyable process of designing your Funky Hut. In this post, we share our top tips to ensure you’re making all the right decisions.

7 Considerations for Designing your Funky Hut

Here are our top 7 considerations when designing your funky hut.

1. Think about the main use for your funky hut. It may sound obvious but starting from here will allow us to recommend the best size and height of chassis.

2. What will be your internal requirements? If you’re using the hut for a home office, will you need additional sockets for tech, a WC and some built in bookshelves? If you’re planning on renting the funky hut out, we will need to plan in a kitchenette and bed space.

3. What specifics are needed for live-in options and to welcome guests? We have a standard template that we can recommend for a rental hut, however, the beauty of a Funky Hut is it is designed for you, so we can change or add anything you or your guests may need, whether it may be an oven, hob, folding dining table or underfloor heating.

4. Where and what size would you like your windows and doors? We can provide our solid hardwood windows and doors in a range of sizes and styles. When placing them, we suggest considering the location of your hut in regard to the sunlight and how this will move throughout the day. The layout of your hut may benefit most from a window above a desk or a smaller frosted window in the bathroom for example.

5. What style and aesthetic would you like to achieve with your funky hut? This may sound vague, but we don’t just build an off-the-shelf, one size fits all option for your hut! All our huts are custom designed with our client, so if you have a certain set of taps you love or a paint colour you can’t live without, send us the info and we’ll source it.

6. Where are you going to position your hut? We endeavour to install our huts in any and every location imaginable, so we always need to know the key information regarding location, this will allow us to plan accordingly. That said, our team love a challenge, and we have a great network of haulage and crane providers, so if we can fit one in, we will.

7. Does your hut require any additional landscaping or groundwork? Funky Huts are fortunate enough to work alongside our sister company, J Drewe Landscaping, so if you require some hard standing for your hut, a patio or deck nearby, or services ran to the hut we can help.

So really, all that is left to do is enjoy your Funky Hut!

Designing your Hut with Funky Huts

If you’re thinking about investing in a funky hut then why not browse our website! To speak with our team, or begin designing your own Funky Hut, get in touch today!

hello@funkyhuts.co.uk

Funky Huts Weekender: The Newbury Show.  

On the 16th and 17th September, Jack and Apryl took The Sonny on the road to The Newbury Show, a 2-day fun-filled weekender at the famous Newbury Show Ground.  We met hundreds of visitors who couldn’t wait to step into our Funky Hut.

The Sonny takes centre-stage

From the moment the event began, we had a constant stream of visitors, delighting in the sleek design, cosy interiors, and immaculate craftsmanship of our Sonny Hut. 

For this event, we chose to bring The Sonny; our largest hut at 6 x 2.4 metres, to truly show what a shepherd hut can offer, and we must have heard the word “Tardis” every few minutes as the space and functionality of the inside surprised guests. Boasting a bathroom, kitchenette, seating area and a nook-style double bed with TV, the Sonny was dressed to impress.

With our choice of classic and eco-friendly materials, smart space utilisation and beautiful design elements, we can create luxurious, comfortable, and functional spaces for our customers. And The Sonny proves that each and every time.

Success at the Show

Thank you to the team at The Newbury Showground and the guests that visited our hut for our first Newbury Show experience. With orders being taken at, and since the show, it was certainly a success for Funky Huts, and we cannot wait to return next year.

Buying a Shepherd’s Hut: The Funky Hut Process

Are you thinking about buying a shepherd’s hut? At Funky Huts, we follow a step-by-step process with all our clients to ensure we supply exactly what you are after.

With an increasing demand for tiny homes, garden retreats and luxury rentals, Shepherds Huts are more desired now than ever. These eco-friendly dwellings provide the perfect balance of comfort, functionality, and design.

In this blog post, we will walk you through the process of buying your very own Funky Hut. From initial designs to delivery and installation, see how we make your funky plans a reality.

Buying a Shepherd’s Hut with Funky Huts

If you’re buying a shepherd hut with Funky Huts, here’s what to expect:

Stage 1: Initial Consultation

Following your first conversation with the Funky Huts team, we will arrange a site meeting. Here, we will take a closer look at the location for your hut and discuss your requirements. Whether you’re buying a shepherd’s hut to be used as a home office or a fully equipped rental space, we can go through the details, enabling us to provide the perfect design specification.

If your site requires ground preparation or landscaping, we can discuss that at this stage too as this is also a service we offer. Using our professional landscaping and grounds service ensures you have continuity and keeps everything under one roof.

Stage 2: Plans and Quotation

Shortly after this site visit, we’ll send over your Funky Huts Pack. This includes the floorplan, a specification and a quote for your new shepherd’s hut and will outline the key information that is unique to your build.

Once you have signed off the plans following any adjustments, we can send an invoice for your deposit and book you into our build schedule.

Stage 3: The Build

You will be notified shortly before your build begins to let you know that we’ve started work and when you can expect your hut to be ready. From here, we’ll keep you updated you as your hut build progresses. You’re more than welcome to visit the workshop during this time to see your hut as it develops.

Stage 4: Delivery

Once your hut is complete and has passed our quality checks, we’ll be in touch to arrange delivery. As we’ll have already visited your site, the delivery details will already be mapped out making the process very simple.

Stage 5: Enjoy

Now that your Funky Hut has been delivered all you need to do is sit back and enjoy or start welcoming guests.

So, if you’re on the hunt for the perfect tiny home, office or rental, contact our team today at hello@funkyhuts.co.uk

The Woody – £17,500 – SOLD

The Woody is 4.2 x 2.4m and ready to be customised and styled to your hearts’ content. Chat to our team about your endless options with this characterful hut and find out more about our process and delivery options.

To speak to our team about one of our huts, get in touch via the form below.

The Sonny – £38,000

The Sonny is 6m x 2.5m and has been finished to an exceptional standard. This beautiful hut boasts a luxurious bathroom, fully functioning kitchenette, delightful seating area and a cosy, nook-style double bed with wall mounted TV.

This charming and characterful hut is sure to impress family, friends or paying guests. Fully furnished and ready for delivery, The Sonny could be yours.

Check out our Instagram feed below for more shots and a video of this stunning hut.

To speak to our team about this, or any other Funky Hut, get in touch via the form below.