Square or rectangle

[Make it work]

Quote JMK89 "and I need a council inspection like I need a cold water enema administered with a garden hose with the fittings still on!"

That is so funny... I really did laugh out loud. May I use it?

Look, ultimately you need to consider what you are going to use the shed for, if you are only making small things like kids toys for example then either will be good, but if you are making long or bulky items like a dining table or a church pew then neither will do.
So best thing is plan out how you would set out the workshop and see which best fits the bill, keeping in mind what you are most likely to use it for.

Also, like I said earlier, if you have an option to insulate it, do it, you won't regret it.

[munruben]

Its not going to be big enough whichever way you go, I would be patient and go for council approval and get the biggest you can get approved I have a large double car garage and its still not large enough. I would dearly love to have a 30ft X 60 ft shed. I think that would keep me happy.

[Ronaldo451]

Jeremy, I'd go for the 2.4 x 4 m version as that would give you more usable wall space, but I bet the door is a double opener on the long side rather than the end anyway, so that wastes a fair bit too.

Bigger is always better but I hear what you are saying about anything being an improvement on the impoverished conditions you have to live with at the moment. Perhaps you should treat this as a phased project with the shed being an initial 'pressure valve' to make life a bit easier pending Council approval for the Taj Mahal. Preference would be to locate it so it won't interfere with ( and also possibly enhance?) later works. If you are going to have power going to it get it done properly and make some provision to allow easy take off for later structure.

Your Council LEP lumps in Cabanas and garden sheds in the same category with a 10sq mtr total limit - Sutherland Council however lists cabanas and garden sheds under separate categories of Exempt Development with a 10 sq mtr limit on each structure, but with a 40sq mtr limit on each category. This would have theoretically allowed me to have up to 4 x 10mtr garden sheds and 4 x 10 mtr cabanas - similar to a previous suggestion. Due to landscape ratio requirements I had to go for a Complying Development shed of 40 sq mtrs instead. Still fascinates me how the Council can insist on a minimum grassed area that cannot be watered in the middle of a never ending drought and water shortage!