Buying A Greenhouse

poorly_scammo

Hi folks,

I am looking to buy a greenhouse and have a budget of £450, size approx. 7x5 or 8x 6-ish. There are so many out there and I'm quite frankly, afraid of buying a crap one!

Do any of you have any recommendations as to manufacturers, sellers? Are there any companies that I should avoid? What should I look out for?

Thanks

TallGirl

I bought mine from Waltons it's a Vitavia and I love it my mum has had her s for 10 years and it looks as good as new. It's the hexagonal one we have. Was a problem with the shelves being wrong size, ordered as an extra but all sorted by Waltons and the manufacturer got money off as well for hassle.

Orange_King

I have had a Gardman polycarb one for the past 2 years and although it has has the panels blown out a couple of times in the past I would recommend it.

If you get an extra pack of clips and in the winter add a few extra weights to keep it well held down there shouldn't be a problem.

Only issue has been the wheels for the door not lasting terribly long but they don't cost much.

poorly_scammo

Thanks guys.

Just to add: if this greenhouse was going to be situated in the back garden or an allotment, I'd either be building it myself from what I could find on skips etc. or I'd be buying second hand. As it is, this greenhouse is going in the front garden so I want it to look OK.

sussexbaker

Hi poorly

There's no reason why a second hand one won't look as good as a new one. Mine cost £200 from ebay, was fully dismantled, 11'x8' aluminium and looks as good as new.

Having said that Greenhouse People always seem to have stuff on clearance ("massive export order cancelled" etc etc) so it might be worth taking a look there.

eyeinthesky

I have a 8x6 ft halls greenhouse, had it for about 15 years without any drama. Take a look at https://www.hallsgreenhouses.co.uk

Davesnave

poorly_scammo wrote: »

Thanks guys.

As it is, this greenhouse is going in the front garden so I want it to look OK.

Have you Planning Permission?

As I understand it, greenhouses are permitted development, so long as they are not sited beyond the front elevation of the house.

In that case planning permission needs to be obtained.

Of course, like me, you might have a front garden with a sticky-out integral garage, which is damned handy!

poorly_scammo

Davesnave wrote: »

Have you Planning Permission?

As I understand it, greenhouses are permitted development, so long as they are not sited beyond the front elevation of the house.

In that case planning permission needs to be obtained.

Of course, like me, you might have a front garden with a sticky-out integral garage, which is damned handy!

I don't need it according to this:
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/outbuildings/miniguide

welovemarmite

I read that guide as you did. Anything forward of the front elevation needs planning permission according to your link

Davesnave

"Outbuildings are not permitted development forward of the principal elevation of the original house." is more or less what I said in my first post.
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/miniguides/outbuildings/Outbuildings.pdf

So, you do need Planning Permission.

PP is an expense. (£70 when I applied a few years ago for my polytunnel.) Whether it's granted will depend on the particular circumstances of your property, including visual impact, alternative sites and so on, so I'd weigh up how it would look and what your neighbours might think before going for PP.

You can be sure that if you live in a standard sort of road with relatively short front gardens, few will cheer if you put a shed or greenhouse out at the front. OTOH, my neighbour has a shed beyond his front elevation, presumably because we're in the country with big plots and houses at different angles to the road, so it impacts on no one else.

In the final analysis, it depends on circumstances what you can do, or what you can get away with if you choose not to ask first!;)