New Conservatory for all year usage, what do I need?

spmc

Arfa__ wrote: »

Oh OK. I'm obviously getting mixed up. I was thinking a garden room was a free standing wooden style room at the bottom of the garden. If it needs planning permission, that will makes things more expensive and cause hassle. You see I thought conservatories are except from planning permission so long as at least 25% of the roof is transparent.

someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I don't believe that there is a difference between a conservatory and extension in terms of planning permission. There may be a difference for building regs.

sunshinetours

Arfa__ wrote: »

Oh OK. I'm obviously getting mixed up. I was thinking a garden room was a free standing wooden style room at the bottom of the garden. If it needs planning permission, that will makes things more expensive and cause hassle. You see I thought conservatories are except from planning permission so long as at least 25% of the roof is transparent.

Think of a conservatory with a solid roof and that is what I meant by a garden room. Planning regs changed somewhat in 2008 so consult your local council for building eregs or planning permission requirement. Unless you are in conservation area or have already extended hugely from original building size chances are you won't need planning for either style

planning_officer

Arfa__ wrote: »

I thought conservatories are except from planning permission so long as at least 25% of the roof is transparent.

No, no such thing under planning legislation.

frogglet wrote: »

Do you need planning permission for a garden room?

Depends on size, location etc.

spmc wrote: »

someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I don't believe that there is a difference between a conservatory and extension in terms of planning permission. There may be a difference for building regs.

Correct!

Arfa__

Thanks all for the replies, all very interesting. Anyway, got first quote in, for a 4x3m conservatory, proper foundations and decent insulated floor, dwarf walls 2 sides, 1 flank wall, argon filled windows, 35mm poly roof, couple skylights, double french doors (all 6 point shoot locks), CH radiator, all smooth plastered inside (my current ext wall is pebbledash), electrics, and replacement kitchen window for slightly narrower one to make fit. 10yr insurance backed guarantee. I would still need to tile floor myself mind. Local firm, been going 30 years odd.

£14K If I want Pilkington glass roof, an extra £1100-1200 ish.
Tis a bit higher than I was first expecting, but it does seem the business. What do you reckon? Got another firm coming to visit Tues.

planning_officer

I'm sure someone else will answer the Q's re. cost etc, as that's not my area of expertise!

Returning to the planning issue, will the conservatory project 3m or 4m from your rear wall? And is that the original rear wall of the dwelling (i.e. has the property beeen extended before)? Also, is it a detached/semi/terrace? Should be able to tell you if you need planning permission then! lol

NuJon_2

Arfa__ wrote: »

Been looking to add a conservatory to the rear of our house. It'll be East facing and I'm in East London. Probably going to be about 3.5x4m ish in size. We want it to be usable all year around, so mustn't be too hot in summer or too cold in winter. I've read much about how things have come on quite a bit these days, but the question is what tech should I be going for to achieve this? What has the biggest effect? And what tech is most economical, both on initial outlay and running.

Some stuff I've seen that helps:
Half height dwarf wall all round (to mount radiator too).
Underfloor heating ('leccy or water off boiler).
Special roof glass to reflect/retain heat.
Heat pump.
Posh blinds
Roof vents.

Being a bit of a newbie to this stuff, what's essential and what's nice to have?

Sounds like you've already done your research; there's not much else you need to consider, except saving yourself a bit of cash in the process. Try britey.co.uk - it'll save you £100 off the price.

Arfa__

Original back wall and extending 3m back from it, i.e. 4m wide. Was told by conservatory chap, that extending 3m was the limit without needing planning permission. No other extension work done to house and I'm not in any special conservation area.

The only other question I have is this: The flank wall (which will be along side the neighbours high fence), they were going to make it solid, rather than glass. A friend suggested doing this wall solid brick full height, rather than dwarf wall or whatever. Any thoughts on this? IAre there any restrictions, planning perm or building regs, regarding height of permanent brick walls?
Ultimately I want to stay away from the planning permission route, don't want hassle or cost.

sunshinetours

Arfa__ wrote: »

Thanks all for the replies, all very interesting. Anyway, got first quote in, for a 4x3m conservatory, proper foundations and decent insulated floor, dwarf walls 2 sides, 1 flank wall, argon filled windows, 35mm poly roof, couple skylights, double french doors (all 6 point shoot locks), CH radiator, all smooth plastered inside (my current ext wall is pebbledash), electrics, and replacement kitchen window for slightly narrower one to make fit. 10yr insurance backed guarantee. I would still need to tile floor myself mind. Local firm, been going 30 years odd.

£14K If I want Pilkington glass roof, an extra £1100-1200 ish.
Tis a bit higher than I was first expecting, but it does seem the business. What do you reckon? Got another firm coming to visit Tues.

For over £1200 per sqm you are pretty much into basic brick extension territory just for information which will arguably add more value (and need no more planning permission than the conservatory these days) and be more easily useable year round.

I appreciate you want a glass extension so just do what you are doing and get three quotes at least to compare

planning_officer

Arfa__ wrote: »

Original back wall and extending 3m back from it, i.e. 4m wide. Was told by conservatory chap, that extending 3m was the limit with needing planning permission. No other extension work done to house and I'm not in any special conservation area.

Providing that permitted development rights have not been removed from your house under a previous planning permission or an Article 4 Direction, then it sounds like it will be permitted development. A conservatory person that provides accurate planning advice - I'm impressed! lol

Arfa__ wrote: »

The only other question I have is this: The flank wall (which will be along side the neighbours high fence), they were going to make it solid, rather than glass. A friend suggested doing this wall solid brick full height, rather than dwarf wall or whatever. Any thoughts on this? IAre there any restrictions, planning perm or building regs, regarding height of permanent brick walls?

From a planning point of view, if it's permitted development, then there's no restriction on the method of construction of the side wall. Just make sure that the eaves are no more than 3m high (which they clearly won't be, for a conservatory!), otherwise it would require planning permission if it's close to the boundary.

julianashcroft

planning_officer wrote: »

From a planning point of view, if it's permitted development, then there's no restriction on the method of construction of the side wall. Just make sure that the eaves are no more than 3m high (which they clearly won't be, for a conservatory!), otherwise it would require planning permission if it's close to the boundary.

As a planning officer what are your thoughts on the Modplan Vertex Roof System for a conservatory. Would this still come under permitted development? Does there have to be some much glazing in a conservatory roof?