Planning Permission – Is It Needed for My Cold Room?

Cold rooms can be used for a huge range of purposes, from food storage and prep areas to garden rooms and offices from insulated panels, cold rooms can enhance a business and your processes. But what question you may be asking yourself when it comes to cold room installation – do you need planning permission for your cold room?

Cold rooms can be installed in multiple locations – both internally and externally, in existing buildings, transforming existing rooms into cold room – and are designed and built to your individual requirements. Whether you’re looking for a walk-in fridge, a walk-in freezer, or an ambient room, planning permission should be an element of cold room installation you consider.

Do I Need Planning Permission for A Cold Room?

Generally, cold rooms don’t require planning permission as they are classed as ‘temporary structures’ – especially when your cold room is built inside an existing building, or within the boundaries of private owned land or property.

However, if your property is rented or leased, we recommend you check with your landlord or property agency to confirm you aren’t in violation by building a cold room on the property – particularly if the cold room is being built outside.

You should also consider your cold room’s size – if you are building an external cold room over three metres tall, we recommend checking with your local authority regarding planning permission, especially if you are in a built-up area.

Another element to consider is the external refrigeration systems – even if your cold room is being built internally, if your external refrigeration unit is over / in a public space or walkway, this will also need to be checked with the local council or authority.

But if you are in doubt whether you cold room needs planning, we always recommend you check to avoid any ongoing issues or costly fine.

If you’re unsure whether your cold room requires planning permission, or if you’d like a quote for cold room design and installation. Get in touch with our expert team! Call us on 01886 833381, email us at sales@mtcss.flywheelsites.com, or fill in an enquiry form via the link below!