Shepherd Hut FAQs
Our shepherd hut FAQs offer helpful information on how to get the most out of a new shepherd hut
If your shepherd hut will be for personal use (such as an additional space for family or a home office) and located on your own personal land, no planning permission is required. There are restrictions on where you can site your shepherd hut, so ideally not within 2m of a boundary fence as it is a structure over 2.5m tall.
If you would like to hire out your shepherd hut to paying customers, for example through AirBnB, you will have to apply to your local council for planning permission. The exception to this rule is that you do not need planning permission as long as you do not exceed 28 days hire per calendar year.
Conservation area
Conservation areas have rules that are specific to their localities, so we recommend that you contact your local council if you are looking to site your shepherd hut in a conservation area.
If you have concerns about neighbours, you can also apply for a “Certificate of Lawful Use”, which would be proof of your right to have a shepherd hut in your garden without planning permission.
(Last updated Feb 2023)
Mains water supply is required, unless you are planning to live off grid. We provide a 15mm pipe connection and valve underneath the shepherd hut.
For larger setups with multiple units, it would be beneficial to have a separate boiler room and we can plumb the shepherd huts to take the hot water directly from this hot water supply.
For waste (grey water and sewage), a 110mm waste fitting is supplied underneath the shepherd hut which can then be plumbed directly into mains drainage or adapted to suit the location.
Connection to mains electricity is normally via a separate small consumer unit or if there is capacity in the existing system a 40amp RCD fuse can be used. Our electricians can advise and quote for any work required. Generally the supply cable to the shepherd hut will be an armoured cable buried in the ground.
Our shepherd huts come with electric underfloor heating as standard to maximise internal floor space. Alternative heating systems can be fitted, including plinth fan heaters, electric radiators and electric log burners.
Off-Grid Living
Living ‘off-grid’ in the UK means you are not connected to the national grid and rely solely on natural gas and power for your home’s energy and alternative water supplies such as rainwater or wells. While certainly providing longer-term savings, this lifestyle choice can require a high initial outlay in terms of accommodation and setting it all up.
There are a number of ways to provide energy to your off grid dwelling. The most popular source is solar panels, and generators are also widely used – although often as a back up source in case the solar panels don’t provide enough energy due to the UK weather. Hybrid systems are another popular choice combining solar and wind/geothermal.
Heating
Renewable heating systems, such as biomass boilers or heat pumps, also work well off grid – with the added bonus of being a lot quieter than a diesel generator.
Generally solar panel systems have improved greatly in the past few years, as has battery storage, so they can certainly power your shepherd hut, even during the winter months if you can generate enough excess energy in the summer to pay for the winter shortfall.
With a reasonable solar set up, it is possible to heat water with electricity. Alternative options include a propane gas water heater. Even heated outdoor jacuzzies and baths are possible, heated by firewood.
Generators provide a good instant source of electricity and come in various options including being able to bury them in the ground, out of sight.
Rainwater supply for fresh water needs treatment to make it potable, so you will need a water filtration system. Untreated water can however be used for washing etc. There are various ways to store water and it can be pumped or gravity fed to your shepherd hut.
Grey water can be put into soakaway and sewage is best addressed with a mini sewage treatment plant as newly installed systems cannot include septic tanks. Luckily, the costs of these systems have reduced significantly in recent years. If there is a nearby existing system, then sewage/grey water can run to it, either by gravity or using a pump system.