FAQs

Please read through these Frequently Asked Questions.

If your query is not covered or you would like to discuss your query further we shall be pleased to help.

Is Planning Permission needed?

Since October 2008, any garden office or other garden building with verandas, balconies or raised platforms now need planning permission from your Local Authority.

Coldstream garden buildings do not have any of these and so are exempt from this regulation.

Within 2 meters of a boundary

A garden office or other garden building within 2 meters of a boundary now has a height limit of 2.500 m below which Planning Permission is not required. The design of a COLDSTREAM garden office is under this height and does NOT require planning permission.

It does not mean that a taller building cannot be built but if your garden office is taller than 2.500 m Planning Permission will be required.

There are other requirements : for example if you are in a conservation area or have a listed building where Planning Permission for a garden office or other building is always required. Please see Planning Portal details below.

Is Building Regulation approval needed?

Within 1 meter of a boundary

Building regulations approval is not normally needed for a garden office up to a floor area of 15 m2.

A garden office in the COLDSTREAM ranges below do not need consent:

2.400 m wide by up to 6.000 m long

3.000 m wide by up to 4.800 m long

3.600 m wide by up to 4.200 m long

Under another part of the regulations a COLDSTREAM garden office or garden workshop can be built within 1 m of the boundary up to 30 m2 of floor area.

This is a COLDSTREAM building up to for example 3.600 m wide x 8.300 m long.

This part of the regulations requires the building to be "substantially non combustible" which any timber based building cannot comply.

More than 1 meter from a boundary

Building regulations is not normally needed for a garden office building up to 30 m2 floor area. Any COLDSTREAM garden office up to 3.600 m x 8.300 m for example is exempt.

For larger buildings COLDSTREAM can design and install buildings of many various sizes to suit your needs.

PLEASE NOTE

The above is for guidance only, it is not a definitive guide to Planning and Building regulations requirements. More information can be found on www.planningportal.gov.uk or by contacting your local authority.

Can I build a COLDSTREAM garden office myself?

A COLDSTREAM garden office or any of our insulated garden buildings arrives on site as a lock together ready to assemble kit. Windows and doors (except for double doors) are already fitted.

Many of our customers install their own COLDSTREAM garden office. Assembly is straight forward and assembly instructions are provided. However, some DIY skills and an appreciation of practical issues are always needed for any form our construction. Because of the size of the panels two people will always be required. Our office staff are available to provide additional advice if required.

Also because a COLDSTREAM garden building arrives ‘flat packed’ access to any site location is rarely a problem.

Coldstream also provide an installation service to most parts of the country if you require.

DO I need to paint a COLDSTREAM garden office?

The simple answer is No.

The industrial quality finish whether wood effect or coloured requires NO PAINTING or preservative. There is NO timber (apart from the internal ply floor finish) used in the construction of our insulated buildings. Which means that there is very little maintenance and no timber to rot in years to come.

How much heat will I need in the winter?

Very Little.

A major feature of a COLDSTREAM insulated garden building is the superb foam injected insulated panel construction manufactured at the COLDSTREAM factory.

The insulation value is very high which means that our standard 75 mm thick wall is the equivalent of 420 mm of softwood timber.

In many cases no continual heating is required at all during the working day.

Please refer to What our customers say

Can my equipment be kept in a COLDSTREAM insulated garden building throughout the year?

Yes.

Because of the high quality of the insulation and the PVCu double glazed door and windows a COLDSTREAM insulated building is ideal as a garden office holding computer equipment, a music studio holding musical instruments, an art studio with papers and paints or a garden workshop storing tools and machinery.

All of this equipment can be stored as safely as if it were in your home.