Do I Need Planning Permission.co.uk
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I understand garden decking falls under Permitted development if certain conditions apply...

You don't ruin a neighbours privacy...

The decking can't be more than 30cm off the ground when measured at the highest point of the ground

The decking when added to other works, can't exceed 50% of the garden

I understand all of the above, but the last condition leaves me BAFFLED

If I'm interpreting the legislation correctly...I cannot put decking anywhere forward of 'the principal elevation' (as I understand it, the building line of the house as it faces the road)

That can't be right?

You can have decking in the rear garden, but not the front?

I live in the countryside. As I look out of my lounge window at the front of my house, I see my garden (all the garden is to the front of the house), our 2 acre field in front of the garden going down the hill and 5 more fields in front of it before we get to the road about 1/2 mile to a mile away

The nearest road is actually to the side of the house, albeit it's on the other side of our side field which is 2 acres - so again, some way off

We do share a drive with a neighbour, but adding decking will not infringe their privacy as they are so far away

Does the legislation mean I cannot put garden decking in my own front garden some 5 metres to the side of the house and 5 metres in front of it...a 100 metres away from the border of our property and a long long way from the road?

Others tell me this IS the case. I know rules and planning laws can be BONKERS, but I'm thinking I've misinterpreted this?

Views? Thoughts?
Advice?

It couldn’t really be any clearer. No decking on land forward of a wall forming the principal elevation. The Technical Handbook provides guidance on what is deemed as the principal elevation.

If you don’t meet the criteria, it just means you would require Planning. Probably a very slim chance of Planning being refused.