Do I need planning permission for my Shepherd Hut or Cabin?

The simple answer is that the Hut / Cabin itself doesn’t need planning permission, it’s what you are doing with it that may do.

As a Shepherd Hut structure is on wheels and is portable the answer is often no. But any change of use of the land that the huts stand upon may need planning permission. Planning permission guidelines can be found online. Local plan policy is a good starting point if you do need planning permission, as if your project falls within the local plan that is a positive thing. In the curtilage of the house, and if the enjoyment of the hut is incidental to the enjoyment of the main dwelling then you don’t need planning permission. So if the hut is near the house, and you go out to the hut to paint, play the guitar, have friends to stay then that is all incidental to the enjoyment of the main dwelling. The test of ‘has a material change of use occurred’ is a good question to ask. If a hut is placed on an agricultural field, and it becomes a holiday let then planning permission would officially be needed. There is a permanency question too; can the hut be moved without large machinery? Yes it can, so it isn’t seen as a permanent structure. But if your hut has plumbing connected to the drain or septic tank (perhaps for a glamping venture) then it could be seen as being less portable – and if services such as septic tanks are needed then the Environment Agency will have guidelines for that, protecting watercourses. Whilst we have delivered many Shepherd Huts and Cabins to National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is worth running the idea past your local authority first.

The Cairngorm Cabin is not on wheels and is more of a permanent structure, although it can be lifted by crane or hiab out of position. So it is portable, it’s just not on wheels. With regards to planning it will very likely require planning permission.

Is a Shepherd Hut / Cabin warm inside, and how is it constructed?

Yes, the shepherd’s hut is built using modern timber frame house techniques, and can be used all year round. The 80 mm CNC frame is completely sheathed in structural OSB 2, wrapped in breather membrane, insulated with British Thermafleece sheep’s wool to the walls & roof and 90mmKingspan to the floor, all of which contributes to a comfortable, warm and dry environment. The internal wall lining is very stable V grooved sheet material, achieving the look of traditional match-boarding with no knots or shrinkage.  It takes paint extremely well. With the added feature of a 4KW woodburner the Hut is warm.

The Cairngorm Cabin is constructed from a different process, a cassette build. The cassette is a pre insulated panel similar to a SIP Panel. This provides 136mm of uninterrupted insulation all round and we bring our services within the service cavity internally.

Is delivery included in the price of my shepherd's hut?

NO, each delivery is different and is location specific. Generally we use either a Crane or HIAB to get your structure into place. Sometimes we will delivery the structure on a low loader, you might have limited access down a narrow country lane, for example, no two deliveries will be the same. We are very knowledgeable and experienced with logistics.

Is it safe to have a Wood Burner in a Shepherd Hut / Cabin

We fit the kite marked stoves made to a British standard for portable accommodation units. There is a fixed air vent, and CO alarm, with 12mm heat shield lining (over a 12mm air gap behind) around the stove which sits on Stone Hearth. The flue pipe is twin wall all the way from stove to chimney cap, helping the relatively short length of flue draw well. We also fit cast iron electric radiators in our Cabin as standard but not in our Shepherd Huts.

What do I do about drainage for my build?

If fitted with a flushing toilet, Shower room / Kitchenette, you will need connecting either to the main drain or a septic tank system. This is a job for a groundwork company and we work closely with one.

How do I connect my build to an electric supply?

240v electrics have a 3 pin duraplug under the build, situated in a convenient place to suit you. If electric showers etc are involved then a 32 or 64amp supply will be required. An armoured cable can be trenched under ground or clipped to a fence or wall to feed an electric supply to the build. Our electrician or yours, will be able to advise on how best to achieve this.

Do you have ready-made Huts / Cabins?

NO, we make to order

What rate of VAT is applicable to my build?

All prices given and delivery services are subject to the applicable rate of UK VAT. The exact rate depends on whether your hut has the attributes of a dwelling. If the hut is longer than 7 metres, wider than 2.55 metres and has a bathroom, kitchen and bed, it will be subject to 5% VAT. If the hut does not meet the criteria for living accommodation it is subject to 20% VAT.

Do we offer self build kits?

We don’t offer a complete self build kit, what we do offer though for our Shepherd Hut & Cabin designs is an externally finished and watertight structure with no internal fit out allowing for you to put your own touch on it. So, from the outside it looks finished and you can do the internal work at your own pace whilst still looking at a lovely Hut or Cabin

Warranty

We guarantee that your build will be free from structural defects for a period of 5 years from the date of delivery. If any structural failure should occur to your build during this period, we will carry out the required repair works free of charge.
This guarantee does not extend to any exposed timber, paint work, cladding or non-structural component comprising any part of the build.
This guarantee does not extend to any damage resulting from neglect, failure to carry out routine maintenance and upkeep, improper use, adverse weather, exposure to corrosive materials, fair wear and tear, damage caused by a third party, or if you, or someone acting on your behalf, alters, modifies or repairs your build without our written consent. Fair wear and tear includes natural changes and weathering, such as rust and oxidation etc to metal components and/or cosmetic or colouring changes, weathering or cracks in wooden components, some/all of which may affect your build during the normal course of its use.
You must give us notice in writing within a reasonable time of discovery that your build does not comply with our warranty.
You must give us the opportunity to examine your build and/or you must provide us with any such information we may require (e.g. photographs of the alleged defect with your build), and if we agree with you that the build (or a part of it) does not comply with the above warranty; your sole and exclusive remedy shall be that we will, within a reasonable time of agreeing that your build does not comply with our warranty, arrange (at our sole discretion and cost) a repair of the defect with your build, and/or a partial refund of the price paid for the defective build and/or a replacement for the defective build. Please note that we will do any necessary work on site unless impossible to do so, in which case we will arrange for the build to be transported back to our workshop for the repair, and then returned to you once the work is complete.
If you are a consumer, nothing in this agreement excludes or limits your statutory legal rights (for example, those arising under the Consumer Rights Act 2015).
Our warranty is not transferable. Therefore, the benefit of the warranty is only available to the first purchaser of the build.
Your build may include items/materials that have been provided to us by third party suppliers, for example, kitchen appliances, bathroom fittings, heating equipment, roof sheets etc. Where possible, we will pass on to you the benefit of any warranties we receive from them (to the extent we are able to do so).