Covering Seaham
Seaham is about 23 miles north of Darlington. We also cover Houghton-le-Spring (5 miles to the west), Sunderland and Washington.
Homes in the North East
In the North East, terraces, semis and bungalows all offer room to extend, with stone-built villages and conservation areas in parts of County Durham and Northumberland.
What goes into an orangery?
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
- Insulated roof perimeter with plastered pelmet
What will an orangery cost?
What orangeries typically cost. These are guide ranges; the written quote for your house replaces them.
| 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?
In England we deal with the council’s planning team for permission or a lawful development certificate, with building control (the council or a registered building control approver) for inspections, and with neighbours under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 where it 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 Seaham homeowners check first?
- An orangery open to the house needs to meet energy rules, which limits the proportion of glazing.
- Heating should be part of the house system, not a plug-in heater.
What happens after I enquire?
- Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
- 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.
- We build it. Work follows an agreed programme, with inspections at each stage and a final sign-off.
Orangeries: common questions
Does an orangery need building regulations?
Usually yes, because it is built as part of the house rather than as a separated conservatory.
How long does it take to build?
About 8 to 14 weeks on site.
Do you work in Seaham?
Yes. Seaham is within our coverage for orangeries, along with nearby Houghton-le-Spring and Sunderland.
Orangeries in nearby towns
- Orangeries in Houghton-le-Spring
- Orangeries in Sunderland
- Orangeries in Washington
- Orangeries in Chester-le-Street
Learn more about orangeries, or see every project we cover in Seaham.

