The Rise of The ‘Shoffice’ – Do You Need One and Is It Worth It?

1st June 2021

A ‘shoffice’ – or shed office – as they’re also known, has become the sudden buzzword in the corporate world. 

When most people received the instruction to work from home, the working world loved the idea. The trouble is, they hated the reality. Soon enough, the workforce found that the chaos in their home couldn’t be confined to the rooms they weren’t trying to work in.

This sudden shift into remote working meant the interest in building a shoffice soared.

What is a ‘Shoffice’?

It’s clear the word ‘shoffice’ was born through combining ‘shed’ and ‘office’, but that doesn’t explain much. For starters, an outdoor office is usually nothing like a traditional shed.

Shoffices are sophisticated buildings with a power supply, insulation and heating. They make for a comfortable place to work all year round.

The best thing about a shoffice is that it’s a bespoke room created just for your needs. They are secure, let in lots of light and can be repurposed for other uses.

A shed office is a fantastic way to create an extra room on a property without going through the expense and mess of a loft conversion or extension. They have all the amenities of a regular room that’s attached to your house. This means you can set up your computing equipment, hook it up to the WiFi and even have your favourite coffee brewing in a machine in the corner.

Is a Shoffice worth investing in?

Having a shoffice built can be a big financial commitment. It’s essential to weigh up the pros and cons as well as consider how much use it will get. If you plan to stay at the property for long time, any investment that creates extra space is worthwhile. 

Since the nation’s workforce has shown it can be trusted to work from home, lots of large companies have adopted a hybrid method of working. This means they expect their employees to work every day but only turn up to the office a few days a week, completing the rest of their work at home. This saves the workers money on the commute as well as saving the business thousands in office running costs. 

It might be wise to check whether your employers are open to allowing you to continue to work from home before you take the plunge.

Do you need planning permission for a shoffice? 

In most cases, planning permission is not needed for a shed office. It can vary from council to council, but providing your garden room meets certain requirements, planning permission isn’t needed.

The normal rule of thumb is that the garden room should meet the below criteria.

• That the garden room is no higher than 2.5m from the bottom of the building to the top of the roof (if within 2m of boundary)
• That you do not take up more than 50% of your garden area with this or any other buildings
• It is not to be used for living or sleeping accommodation

The best thing to do is to check with your local authority before making any plans for building.