Outhouse

An outhouse refers to a small building built on to or as part of the grounds of a house or residency. Traditionally in English an outhouse was more likely to have referred to an un heated (often uninsulated) space, which could have been a lean-too where coal was originally stored; a coal-hole, which may have then later been converted to an outside toilet or privy. In modern British English it is often used more broadly to describe a compact standalone building at the end of a garden. That might be used as a studio, home office, hobby room, or storage space similar to a summer or garden house, garden room, outbuilding, house, or annexe,.

Historically, homes didn't have running water or waste and as these were introduced they were often connected the outside buildings, rather than within the main house, avoiding disruption and often due to lack of space and funds. the separated structures or outhouses could be used for sanitation, storage, or domestic tasks as a utility space before indoor plumbing became standard. In many British homes, especially older terraced, rural, or working-class properties, the outside toilet or wash-house was a normal part of everyday life. As indoor bathrooms, drainage, and central heating spread, the original meaning of outhouse faded.

Traditionally in urban planning, the terrace or semi detached house often had relatively long gardens, commonly with a garden shed at the end and some times access roads or paths to the rear of the garden. As pressure for space increased, these became an opportunity expand liveable areas, the existing structure acting as a precedent in terms of planning. Today it is quite common for these timber sheds to be replaced, upgraded or extended for use as home offices offices or studios. Today solutions for these often include increased insulation, and innovative natural lighting because they are unlikely to be connected to the heating system of the main house and thus reliant on electrical heating and where possible natural sunlight.

In the UK, planning and building rules depend on what the structure is, where it sits, what is overlooks and how it will be used. Many garden buildings fall within permitted development rights if they are ancillary to the house,and do not exceed height and size limits. More importantly they cannot be self-contained living and sleeping accommodation to continue to benefit from permitted development rights. On a practical level such units also then require plumbing, drainage and potentially efficient heating, and external access, thus planning permission and building regulations will apply. If it is being used as a home office or studio, it can be incidental to the main residence, as opposed to being a separate residential unit which changes the legal use of the building and often the requirements associated.

See articles Planning permission for garden buildings, Summerhouse, and avoiding planning permission pitfalls.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Avoiding planning permission pitfalls.
• Conservation areas.
• Garden.
• Gazebo.
• Original house.
• Pavilion.
• Pergola.
• Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act.
• Planning permission.
• Planning permission for garden buildings.
• Summerhouse.
• The rise of multiple property ownership in Britain.
• Use class.