Beautifully built. Comfortable all year.
Bespoke, insulated garden rooms designed around your property, from a garden office or art studio to a gym, workshop, classroom or quiet timber retreat.
Not an upgraded shed.
A proper room beyond the house.
A Timber Built garden room begins with how you want to use it. We consider light, outlook, privacy, movement, storage and comfort before resolving the timber frame, insulated envelope and finishes. The result is a space that belongs in the garden and earns its place in everyday life.
One structure. Many possibilities.
Garden office
A quiet, comfortable place to work without losing a room inside the house.
Garden studio
A flexible space for making, music, photography or focused creative work.
Garden gym
A private training space designed around your equipment, ventilation and routine.
Garden retreat
A warm garden cabin for reading, relaxing, entertaining or simply stepping away.
Garden workshop
Garden art studio
Natural light, practical finishes and a layout shaped around the way you create.
Classroom
Year-round garden pods
Comfort is designed in, not added later.
Most of our garden rooms use structurally insulated panels, usually known as SIPs. A rigid insulated core is sandwiched between structural OSB boards, creating a strong, precise panel that combines structure and insulation.
For a garden room, that gives us a practical starting point for a well-insulated envelope. Glazing, doors, roof, floor, ventilation, heating and the junctions between them still matter, so we consider the whole room rather than relying on one material alone.
A timber garden retreat made to last.
Good performance depends on hundreds of connected decisions. We coordinate them as part of the garden-room service instead of treating project management as a separate product.
A considered base
A complete envelope
Floor, walls, roof, glazing and doors are resolved together to support year-round comfort.
Useful services
Material character
Clear coordination
A finished room
Sizes and Starting Prices
Investment Guide
| Approx. Size | Typical Use | Est. Price From |
|---|---|---|
| 3m x 3m | Home Office / Studio | £13,500 |
| 4m x 3m | Gym / Garden Lounge | £16,800 |
| 5m x 4m | Luxury Annex / Suite | £24,000+ |
A calm place to work, train, teach or create.
- Natural and task lighting
- Heating and ventilation strategy
- Power, data and useful storage
- Finishes selected for the activity
Start with the site, use and constraints.
Some garden rooms may be possible under permitted development, but this depends on limits and conditions covering matters such as position, height, total garden coverage and use.
Listed buildings, designated land, flats, maisonettes and properties where permitted-development rights have been restricted require additional care. A garden room intended as separate self-contained accommodation is also a different planning proposition.
We raise the relevant questions early and recommend confirmation from South Hams District Council or the appropriate local planning authority where needed.
Before your garden room takes shape.
Do I need planning permission for a garden room in the South Hams?
Most garden rooms fall under “Permitted Development,” meaning you won’t need full planning permission if height and size limits are met. However, if you live in a conservation area or AONB, rules can differ. TimberBuilt Dartmouth can manage the entire planning process for you to ensure total peace of mind.
What kind of base do I need?
We offer several options depending on your ground conditions. Ground screws are our most popular choice as they are eco-friendly and require no messy excavation. We also provide traditional concrete bases or timber frame plinths where appropriate.
How long does the build take?
Depending on the size and complexity, most on-site builds take between 2 and 4 weeks. We handle everything from the base to the final electrical connections.
Can a garden room really be used all year?
Can you build an insulated garden office in Dartmouth?
Can a garden room include a wood burner?
A wood burner can be considered as part of an early brief. Suitability depends on room size, ventilation, flue position, clearances, the building design and applicable regulations, so it needs to be assessed rather than treated as a standard addition.
What if we need a small modular extension for a kitchen?
An attached kitchen extension is a different project type from a detached garden room. Timber Built also designs modular extensions, so we can help identify the more appropriate route before the design develops.
What should I check before building a garden room in Dartmouth?
Some garden rooms may qualify as permitted development, but restrictions can apply to their position, height, size and intended use. Listed buildings, designated land and properties with restricted development rights may require additional approval. We can help you consider these requirements during the design process, but formal advice should always be obtained when needed.
Read the official GOV.UK guidance on permitted development rights for householders.
Garden rooms for Dartmouth, the South Hams and South Devon.
We design and build timber garden rooms from our Dartmouth base, working across nearby towns, villages and coastal settings including Kingsbridge, Totnes, Salcombe, Ivybridge and Modbury.
Access, slopes, exposure, neighbouring properties and sensitive settings can all influence the right solution. Local context is treated as part of the brief, not a location name added at the end.