Garden Room Golf Simulator UK: Get the Height Right Before You Order the Building
A garden room is the one simulator space you can design from scratch. The catch is height: the planning rule most garden rooms are built to leaves too little ceiling for a full driver swing. Decide this before the building is ordered.
Quick answer
In England, a garden room within 2 m of a boundary is limited to 2.5 m tall overall under permitted development. After the floor and roof build-up, that typically leaves somewhere around 2.0–2.2 m inside, which is too low for full swings. For a golf room, aim for about 2.7 m or more of clear internal height. That usually means siting the building more than 2 m from the boundary (3 m flat roof, or up to 4 m with a dual-pitched roof) or applying for planning permission.
Permitted development height limits (England)
| Situation | Limit under permitted development | What it means for golf |
|---|---|---|
| Within 2 m of a boundary | Maximum 2.5 m overall height | Usually too low inside for full swings |
| More than 2 m from the boundary, flat or mono-pitch roof | Maximum 3 m overall, 2.5 m eaves | Can leave about 2.6–2.7 m inside with a slim roof and floor; ask the builder |
| More than 2 m from the boundary, dual-pitched roof | Maximum 4 m overall, 2.5 m eaves | A vaulted ceiling: hit under the ridge, where the height is |
| All outbuildings | Single storey; together with other buildings, no more than half the land around the original house; not forward of the front of the house | Applies to every option above |
Permitted development does not apply to flats and maisonettes, and can be removed in conservation areas, for listed buildings or by an Article 4 direction. Wales has similar rules that may differ in detail, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own. Check with your council before ordering.
Internal heights above are planning estimates. Floors (base, joists, insulation, deck) and roofs (joists, insulation, covering) vary, so ask the supplier for the finished clear height under the lowest beam or light.
Building regulations
A garden room used as a games room, with no sleeping accommodation, generally does not need building regulations approval if it is under 15 m². Between 15 and 30 m² it is generally exempt if it is at least 1 m from the boundary or built mainly of non-combustible materials. Electrical work is different: new circuits to an outbuilding must meet the wiring regulations, so use a registered electrician who can certify the work.
A spec sheet to give your builder
Print this and agree each line before you sign. Numbers are our planning targets for a single hitting position; see the room-size guide for the reasoning.
| Item | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Clear internal height | 2.7 m or more under the lowest beam or light, at the hitting position | Room for a full driver swing for most golfers |
| Usable width | 3.5 m or more; 4 m or more if left and right handers share | Swing room and side protection |
| Usable depth | 5 m or more | Ball-to-screen distance, stance and space behind for seating or radar |
| Floor | Level, solid, with room for a 25–40 mm mat; consider recessing the mat | A raised mat eats ceiling height |
| Projector mount | Ceiling fixing point behind or above the golfer, position set by the projector’s throw ratio | Avoids shadows and club strikes. See the projector guide |
| Power | Sockets at the launch monitor position, at the projector and at the PC or TV; a dedicated supply from the house | No trailing cables across the hitting area |
| Network | Ethernet or a strong mesh Wi-Fi point | Software updates, online play and course downloads |
| Lighting | Dimmable, outside the swing area, not shining on the screen | Picture contrast and camera units both need controlled light |
| Windows and doors | None in the hitting line or behind the screen; door out of the swing | Mis-hits and rebounds |
| Insulation and heating | Insulated walls, roof and floor; heating and ventilation sized for winter use | Comfort, condensation and electronics |
| Sound | Acoustic insulation on the side nearest neighbours | Ball impact is loud |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need planning permission for a golf simulator garden room?
Often not, if it meets permitted development limits. But within 2 m of a boundary the 2.5 m height limit usually leaves too little ceiling for golf, so you may need to site it further away or apply for permission.
What internal height does a golf simulator garden room need?
Aim for about 2.7 m or more of clear height at the hitting position. Lower rooms can work for some golfers after a swing test.
Does a garden golf room need building regulations?
Generally not under 15 m² with no sleeping accommodation, and often not between 15 and 30 m² if it is 1 m from the boundary or mainly non-combustible. The electrics still need certifying.
Sources
Planning Portal: outbuildings planning permission · Planning Portal: building regulations for outbuildings · Welsh Government: outbuildings. Checked 1 October 2026; rules, prices and software change, so confirm before you buy or build.