But then if you telephone the planners (not the building inspectors) at
the same council, you get a different answer. AFAIK around here /any/
combustible building, temporary or otherwise, has to be at least a
metre from the boundary. But you don't get that in writing, oh dear me
no.

Whatever their interpretation, they can do nothing about it. You are
entitled by law to do so, unless there is a conservation area or something.

If they took you to court, you'd win.

Christian.