How to Plan a Shed: What to Consider Before You Build
Planning a new shed or structural steel building starts with understanding what the building needs to do, how it needs to work on your site and what needs to be considered before design begins.
Building size, site access, council approval, drainage, clear spans, door openings, future expansion, budget and how the building will be used can all influence the final solution.
But you don’t need to have all those answers before speaking with TechSpan.
Our team helps you work through the decisions that matter, using our 3C Advantage: Concept. Configure. Construct.
Every building is different. Our method isn’t.
How do you plan a new shed?
Start with what you need the building to achieve, rather than trying to determine the final dimensions or specification yourself.
Consider what will happen inside the building, what needs to move through it, how it will sit on your site and what your operation might need from it in the future.
From there, decisions around size, configuration, engineering, access and approvals can be worked through in more detail.
This is where involving TechSpan early can help.
You don’t need to come to us with a finished plan. Bring us what you know about your project, and we’ll help you work through the rest.
What should you consider when planning a shed?
No two projects are the same.
An agricultural building on a regional property will have different requirements from an industrial workshop, logistics facility or aircraft hangar. Even two buildings designed for the same purpose can require very different solutions depending on their site, equipment, workflows and future plans.
There are, however, some important questions worth considering early.
1. What will the building be used for?
Start with the operation, not the structure.
What needs to happen inside the building?
Think about equipment, vehicles, machinery, storage, people, workflows and how different areas need to interact.
For example, an industrial workshop may require large equipment access and clear working areas, while an agricultural building may need to accommodate machinery movements, storage or livestock operations.
The intended use can influence almost every other decision that follows.
You can explore the different types of buildings TechSpan works with across Agriculture, Industrial, Aviation and Community.
2. How big should your shed be?
The right building size depends on more than the floor area you need today.
Consider:
- what needs to fit inside
- equipment and vehicle dimensions
- required clear spans
- building height
- bay spacing
- door openings
- circulation and access
- storage requirements
- potential future expansion.
Sometimes changing the configuration can make a building work significantly better without simply making it bigger.
During the early stages of a project, our team can help you explore different configurations and understand how these decisions affect the way the building will work.
If you’re still exploring ideas, the TechSpan 3D Shed Builder can also help you visualise different dimensions, layouts, doors and building features before submitting your concept to our team for review.
3. Where should you position your shed?
The best position for a new building depends on the individual site and how the building will be used.
Considerations may include:
- vehicle and machinery access
- existing buildings and infrastructure
- site levels and earthworks
- drainage and stormwater
- prevailing weather
- setbacks and boundaries
- utilities and services
- future development of the site.
These factors can influence both the building design and the wider project.
Identifying them early gives you more opportunity to work around constraints before key decisions are locked in.
4. Do you need council approval for a shed?
Whether your project requires council or planning approval depends on factors including its location, size, intended use, building classification and local planning requirements.
Different projects may follow different approval pathways.
You don’t need to determine all of this yourself before talking to TechSpan.
Our team can help you understand the likely requirements, provide the relevant structural drawings and engineering documentation within our scope, and point you in the right direction for lodgement, certification or additional consultant support.
If approvals are one of your first questions, read our Council Approval Guide and our guide to Building Classes for Sheds.
Importantly, approval requirements vary between projects and locations, so they should be considered as part of the individual project rather than treated as a standard process for every building.
5. What access does your building need?
Think about what needs to move through and around the building, not just what needs to fit inside it.
Trucks, forklifts, agricultural machinery, aircraft and other large equipment can influence:
- door positions
- opening widths and heights
- internal clearances
- turning areas
- traffic flow
- bay spacing
- building height.
Getting these requirements clear early can help avoid a building that technically provides enough floor area but doesn’t work efficiently in practice.
6. Should you plan for future expansion?
Where possible, yes.
A building is a long-term investment, so it makes sense to consider what your operation may look like in five, ten or even twenty years.
You might eventually need more storage, additional equipment, different access, another tenancy, additional bays or an extension to the building.
Not every future requirement can be predicted, but discussing likely changes during the Concept stage allows them to be considered before the building configuration is finalised.
7. What other project requirements should you consider?
Depending on the project, there may be other factors that need to be worked through before construction.
These can include:
- building classification
- planning and council requirements
- structural engineering
- geotechnical information
- site surveying
- civil works
- stormwater and drainage
- fire and compliance requirements
- electrical and other services
- access and traffic movements
- construction sequencing.
This doesn’t mean you need to organise every item before talking to us.
Part of our role is helping you understand what needs to be considered, what sits within TechSpan’s scope and where other consultants or project partners may need to be involved.
When should you talk to a shed builder?
Earlier than you might think.
You don’t need a finished design, engineering drawings or a complete building specification before starting the conversation.
Involving TechSpan during the planning stage gives us an opportunity to understand what you’re trying to achieve, identify potential constraints and explore options before major decisions become expensive or difficult to change.
This is particularly important for larger or more complex structural steel buildings where design, engineering, approvals, manufacturing and construction all need to work together.
For projects requiring a more customised approach, you can also learn more about our Custom Structural Steel Solutions.
Every building is different. Our method isn’t.
There are plenty of variables involved in planning a structural steel building.
That’s why TechSpan uses the 3C Advantage: Concept. Configure. Construct.
It’s a consistent method for working through an individual project, rather than a standard building being applied to every site.
Concept
We start by understanding what you’re trying to achieve.
That means looking at the building use, site, operational requirements, timeframe, budget and future plans.
The conversation isn’t simply:
“What size shed do you want?”
We want to understand what the building needs to do and what a successful outcome looks like for you.
Configure
Once we understand the project requirements, we can begin configuring the building around them.
This is where dimensions, clear spans, access, building classification, structural requirements, site constraints and other project considerations start coming together.
Working through these decisions before the building is locked in creates greater clarity around the proposed solution and gives you the opportunity to consider different options.
Construct
Once the building is clearly defined, the project can progress through engineering, manufacturing and construction.
TechSpan brings design, engineering and manufacturing capability together, helping maintain continuity from the decisions made during the early planning stages through to delivery.
You can read more about how the TechSpan 3C Advantage works.
Why does early planning matter?
Good shed planning isn’t about having every answer from day one.
It’s about asking the right questions early enough to make informed decisions.
Changes to building size, configuration, access or structural requirements are much easier to explore during the Concept stage than after engineering, approvals or fabrication have progressed.
Early involvement can help identify constraints, clarify responsibilities and give everyone involved a better understanding of the project before key decisions are locked in.
For larger projects involving multiple stakeholders, consultants or builders, TechSpan also offers Tailored Solutions to create a clearer pathway from planning through to construction.
Frequently asked questions about planning a shed
What information do I need before contacting TechSpan?
You don’t need a completed design.
Start with what you know: what the building will be used for, where you plan to build it, approximate dimensions if you have them, what needs to fit inside and any particular challenges or requirements you’re already aware of.
Our team can help you identify what needs to happen next.
Can TechSpan help me work out what size building I need?
Yes. Rather than looking at dimensions alone, we can discuss how the building will be used, required access, equipment, clearances, workflows and future plans to help determine an appropriate configuration.
You can also use our 3D Shed Builder if you’d like to start exploring your building visually.
Can TechSpan help with council approval?
Council and planning requirements vary depending on the project and location.
TechSpan can help you understand the likely approval considerations, prepare relevant structural drawings and engineering documentation within our scope, and guide you towards the appropriate next steps. Other consultants, certifiers or council may also need to be involved depending on the project.
Read our Council Approval Guide for more information.
Does every TechSpan building follow the same process?
Yes, but not the same design.
Every project follows our 3C Advantage: Concept. Configure. Construct.
The method provides structure and clarity, while the building itself is configured around the requirements of the individual project, site and client.
What is the first step in planning a new shed?
Start with a conversation.
You don’t need to solve every design, engineering or approval question before speaking with us.
Tell us what you’re trying to achieve, what needs to happen inside the building and what you know about the site.
From there, we can help you work through the next steps.
Start planning your building with TechSpan
A successful building doesn’t start with a standard set of dimensions.
It starts with understanding what you need the building to do.
Whether you’re planning an agricultural building, industrial facility, aircraft hangar or community project, our team can help you work through the decisions that shape the right solution.
Bring us what you know. We’ll help you work through what comes next.
Talk with the TechSpan team about your project and start with the Concept stage of our 3C Advantage.