We are often asked about shepherd's huts and planning permission.  It's not as simple as 'if it's on wheels you can put one anywhere'  On that basis someone could put small wheels on a 40' shipping container or similar and get away with it, and that wouldn't be right!  The usual position seems to be that a shepherd's hut can be sited in the curtilage of a house without planning permission, so long as it's use is incidental to the enjoyment of the main dwelling.  Many shepherd's huts are in use across the country for a range of uses on that basis.  Some houses are governed by listed building status or national parks etc. and you could approach a local expert for a professional opinion.  We have had customers who own fields away from their homes and  have been given a Certificate of lawful use by the local council which gives an official opinion that it is OK; useful if neighbours need reassurance.

In some cases, where planning permission would never be granted for more usual development due to landslip or flooding, a shepherd's hut (being easily moved and well above ground level) offers a really good solution to the problem that sits well in most situations.

A well proportioned traditional looking shepherd's hut looks right in the landscape and it is unlikely to offend.  In the rare cases where full planning permission is needed there has never been a problem with one of our huts (one AONB officer reported that a Plankbridge hut had no visual impact in the landscape).  My advise is always that it is not the hut that needs permission, it is the potential change of use of the land that it stands on that may need permission.  If a shepherds hut is placed in an agricultural field it wouldnt need planning permission if it was used in relation to agriculture.  If there was a change of use, eg. running a mail order business or creating a permanent residence on what was once agricultural land then you would need planning permission.