Orangeries in Hertfordshire

Covering Hertfordshire

Our coverage across Hertfordshire includes Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage and St Albans.

Homes in the East of England

Across the East of England, newer estates often have integral garages and room for rear extensions, while older towns have Victorian terraces and conservation areas that shape what can be built.

What does an orangery involve?

An orangery is a single-storey extension with brick piers or walls, large windows and a glazed lantern set into a solid, insulated roof. It sits between a conservatory and a full extension: lighter than an extension, warmer and more solid than a conservatory.

Design to suit the house style
Foundations, brick piers and insulated base
Heating, electrics and decoration-ready finish

How much should I budget for an orangery?

Indicative costs for orangeries. London and the South East usually sit towards the top of each range.

Orangeries	Guide price incl. VAT
Standard specification	£3,000 to £3,500 per m²
Good specification	£3,500 to £4,100 per m²
High specification	£4,100 to £4,800 per m²

What approvals does an orangery need in England?

Projects in England go through two separate checks. Planning (or confirmation that the work is permitted development) comes from the district, borough or unitary council, and building regulations approval comes from the council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Where work touches a shared wall or digs near a neighbour’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies.

In England a single-storey rear extension can often go ahead under permitted development: up to 3 m deep on an attached house or 4 m on a detached one, no higher than 4 m, with eaves no higher than 3 m within 2 m of a boundary.

What should I think about before starting?

Solar-control glass in the lantern stops summer overheating.
Heating should be part of the house system, not a plug-in heater.

What happens after I enquire?

Tell us about the project. Call, use the guide price tool or send the form with a few photos and a postcode.
We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
Price and paperwork. The design is priced line by line, and we submit the planning and building control applications.
Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.

Orangeries: common questions

What is the difference between an orangery and a conservatory?

An orangery has a mostly solid, insulated roof with a glazed lantern and brick piers, so it behaves like a room of the house. A conservatory is mostly glass.

Can it be used in winter?

Yes. It is insulated and heated like any other room.

How do I get a price for orangeries in Hertfordshire?

Use the guide price tool for a ballpark figure, then book a visit for a fixed written price for the agreed specification.

Also covering

Learn more about orangeries, or see every project we cover in Hertfordshire.