Polytunnel/greenhouse advice

[Masco&Bongo]

We're demolishing/taking down our rotten wooden greenhouse in the autumn. We've got no choice in the matter really, it's falling to pieces and can't be repaired

We plan to replace it with a large polytunnel and a smaller greenhouse. We're hoping to get a polytunnel that's at least 14ft by 21ft (yay!)

Does anyone have any recommendations for companies that supply these? We've looked in smallholding and gardening magazines and have amassed a few names, but wouldn't mind some recommendations etc before we swoop in and spend rather a lot of money...

Cheers!

[Odsox]

Can't really recommend a polytunnel company I'm afraid, but I can recommend that you take a good look at the doors on the ones being offered. Some have small single doors and some have double doors ... go for the double doored ones or you have trouble even getting a wheelbarrow inside. And I would recommend getting one with straight (vertical) sides rather than the curved ones.
Other than that, get the biggest you can fit in/afford as it's never big enough.

[Bluebell]

Hi
We have been trying to sort out a polytunnel for 3 months now. The Council told us that polytunnels are classed as buildings and you have to have planning permission. After spending 8 weeks waiting for a decision on our planning application we have now been told we can't have one because it would not be conducive to the beauty of the area !! We now have to appeal but cannot fathom out why polytunnels are classed as buildings or why we needed planning permission in the first place. Just wondering if anyone else has had the same problem.
Bluebell

[JulieSherris]

Hi
We have been trying to sort out a polytunnel for 3 months now. The Council told us that polytunnels are classed as buildings and you have to have planning permission. After spending 8 weeks waiting for a decision on our planning application we have now been told we can't have one because it would not be conducive to the beauty of the area !! We now have to appeal but cannot fathom out why polytunnels are classed as buildings or why we needed planning permission in the first place. Just wondering if anyone else has had the same problem.
Bluebell

Hi Bluebell,

Yes, I've heard of this wrangle before, when we were in the UK - (Blackpool) - And the guy in question ended up moving & getting an allotment with a greenhouse!

Anyway, we went to the family day in our village last sunday & I was chatting to a guy who works on the local council - I told him we were moving & planning to start a small smallholding/glorified veggie garden, chicks & whatever else comes along....
I asked him about the polytunnel issue & he just laughed at me!
Seems that here in Ireland, as long as you're off the beaten track, you pretty much do as you like!

(He also knows the property, & asked me if we were going to flatten the 'derelict' at the end of the garden to rebuild & sell on! I told him no, we were keeping it as the workshop/storage/laundry room, etc & he said he thought we were mad for passing up an opportunity to make some cool hard cash...... now there's something else that wouldn't happen in the UK!)

Julie.

[pumpy]

I guess it's an issue of whether it's a wooden or metal frame, & whether or not, the local authorities want to know if it's a domestic or commercial venture.(like it's any of their business!!).

[Annpan]

It has to do with the square footage too - I think up to 34m2 you can have without planning permission.

Though naturally this will vary area to area, whether you are in a conservation area, etc, etc

[marshlander]

You will find this earlier thread useful when choosing a supplier http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... ls&start=0

[Thurston Garden]

Wot Tony said, plus

I met the planners about our big tunnel and they did not know. "Write to us formally" they said. So I did. And chased them. And chased them. Nothing. So I wrote and told them I was putting it up and come and stop me!

Never heard a thing in 3 years. It's 3,000sq ft too! (it's up for sale in the winter )