Planning permission - Do we need Planning Permission or Building Regulation Approvals?
Probably not. Planning Permission is not usually required unless you are adding a conservatory to a house that has already been extended. You may also need to check if your house is a 'new build' as developers sometimes have restrictions placed upon them.
For Building Regulation requirements, here's a quick summary of the basic facts:
In England and Wales, Building Regulations are not required as long as the conservatory in question...
Has a roof made of at least 75% transparent or translucent material
- Has at least 50% glazed walls (i.e., no more than half of the wall area should be brickwork, masonry or solid panels)
- Has a floor area of no more than 30 square meters
- Is at ground level
- Is permanently separated from the rest of the house by an exterior quality lockable door
- Has thermostatically controlled heating
- Is not being attached to a listed building
- Does not contain sanitary or drainage facilities (one of the likeliest reasons for a conservatory requiring Building Regulation approval is that all or part of it is being used as a kitchen)
- Satisfies the Building Regulations with regard to toughened or safety glass
Please note that requirements in Scotland, and, to a lesser extent, Northern Ireland are different to those in England and Wales. If in doubt, contact the Building Control Department of your local council who will be able to advise you of the specific requirements in your area.
- Choosing the site - take into account factors such as:
- an appropriate outside wall of sufficient length
- the square footage available for building a conservatory
- the room which will provide interior access to the conservatory
- access from the conservatory into the garden
- walls, buildings, trees and greenery adjacent to the proposed site
- choose a style - there's a wide range of conservatory types to choose from at Prior conservatories
Furnishings - your furnishings will depend on the style and décor of your conservatory. Remember to carefully consider where you position the doors of your conservatory as this will have a large impact on the available floor space for positioning furniture. For example, positioning the doors on one side of the conservatory leaves an L-shaped floor space, whilst a door on the far end creates a 'corridor' effect where the furniture has to be positioned down each side of the conservatory.
- Garden design - having your conservatory built is a great opportunity to re-landscape your garden, so that the conservatory blends in perfectly with its surroundings and you can enjoy the two together.