Everything You Need Before You Buy.

Most pergola installations in England fall under Permitted Development rights — meaning no planning application is required. However, specific rules govern size, position, and property type. Understanding these before you measure saves time, money, and frustration.

Under UK Permitted Development rights, garden structures including pergolas are generally allowed without a formal planning application, provided they meet certain conditions. These rights apply to houses — not flats, maisonettes, or listed buildings.

If any part of your pergola falls within 2 metres of a property boundary, the maximum allowable height is 2.5 metres. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood rules — it applies to the eaves height, not the ridge height.

Under Permitted Development, the total area of outbuildings and extensions (including your pergola) must not exceed 50% of the total garden area around the original house. The "original house" is defined as the property as it stood on 1 July 1948 — or as built, if built after that date.

Covered pergola structures count toward this figure. Open-sided structures with no defined roof may be treated differently by some local authorities — confirm with your LPA if your site coverage is marginal.

A Lawful Development Certificate is a formal document from your local planning authority confirming that your proposed structure is lawful under Permitted Development. It is not required by law — but it protects you when selling your property and provides legal certainty.

Our sister brand, Plan Pros, specialises in pre-application planning advice and can advise on LDC applications, conservation area constraints, and listed building consent requirements before you commit to a purchase.

Permitted Development rights do not apply to structures built forward of the principal elevation (front) of the original house, or to the side of the house where it faces a highway. If your intended position is at the front or side of your property adjacent to a road, a full planning application is likely required.

Through our Sterling Assurance Service, we offer application support at exclusive rates via our planning arm, Plan Pros

Accurate measurements are the single most important factor in a successful pergola installation. Errors at this stage cascade through every subsequent step — from incorrect post positioning to structural misalignment. Measure twice. Photograph everything.

Always measure from the inside face of any wall or fence the structure will attach to — not from the outside face. Your pergola dimensions refer to the finished external frame size, so measure to where you want the outer edge of the post or beam to sit.

If your installation area has walls or fences on more than one side, confirming square corners is essential. An out-of-square space will create misalignment in post positioning and visual discrepancies in the finished structure.

Allow a minimum of 900mm between any pergola post and an adjacent wall, fence, or fixed furniture. For comfortable movement of two people passing, 1,200mm is preferred. This clearance affects post positioning and is critical in narrow spaces.

Our standard frame heights range from 2.2m to 3.2m to the underside of the beam. The most commonly requested residential height is 2.4m — comfortable for clearance under the beam whilst remaining within Permitted Development limits when close to a boundary.

Remember: if you are within 2m of a boundary, the total structure height (to the top of the outermost roof element, not the underside of the beam) must not exceed 2.5m. Factor in louvre depth — typically 80–100mm above the beam — when confirming compliance.

Photos submitted with your suitability assessment form allow our advisors to verify your measurements and identify any site-specific considerations that might not be obvious from dimensions alone.

The foundation is the single most critical factor in the long-term performance of your pergola. An incorrectly prepared base causes post misalignment, structural movement, and — in worst cases — voids your 15-year structural warranty. Get this right before anything else.

Each post position requires a concrete pad foundation to the following minimum specification:

We strongly recommend commissioning a qualified builder or groundworks contractor to assess your site and prepare foundations before your pergola is ordered. Pergola Pros does not supply or supervise groundworks — this is the homeowner's responsibility and must be completed before delivery day.

Your 15-year structural warranty (Gold Series) and applicable warranties on other models are conditional on foundations meeting the specification above. In the event of a warranty claim, we may request evidence that foundations were correctly prepared — photographs of the poured concrete before backfilling are strongly recommended.

Structural movement, post lean, or frame distortion arising from inadequate foundations will not be covered under warranty. If you are unsure about your ground conditions — particularly in areas with clay soil, made ground, or tree root proximity — consult a structural engineer before commissioning groundworks.

Your pergola is built to last decades — but only if it receives the right care. The Stewardship Program sets out the simple maintenance routine that protects your structure and keeps your warranty valid. None of these tasks require specialist tools or contractors.

All Pergola Pros models are engineered for high-velocity winds. However, correct positioning of your louvres before and during a storm is essential to prevent unnecessary load on the motor and frame.