“IT’S VITAL TO ENSURE THAT
ANY EXTENSION IS FUTURE-
PROOFED – THERE’S A PEACE
OF MIND THAT COMES WITH
A TIMELESS DESIGN”
ASHLEIGHBARNES,designer,
Apropos, aproposuk.comMARSTON & LANGINGER
Hampshire-based specialist
in structures that replicate
the aesthetic of wood with
aluminium. The team can
help with orangeries, garden
rooms or conservatories,
marstonandlanginger.com.
THE SOURCEBOOK: EXTENSIONS
DESIGNTwenty years ago, an extension almost
always referred to a conservatory – an often
blindingly bright glazed room that was somewhere to
eat or read overlooking the garden. Today, to some
extent because of the inflated cost of moving house,
homeowners are more strategic with their plans,
maximising the square footage of the house and
creating multipurpose spaces to include everything
from kitchen-diners to dining rooms, wine cellars
and family spaces. ‘Additional square footage is often
desired but if function takes a back seat to form, the
result can be impractical,’ warns Jonathan Hey of
Westbury Garden Rooms. Proportion – the balance
between floor space and ceiling height – is critical in
creating a successful outcome.
MATERIALSThis choice is fundamental to the
design as it’s the element that brings the structure to
life. For traditionally designed extensions to blend
easily with the existing building, the materials used
play a vital role. ‘Matching the joinery colour to that
of the house, as well as the brick (using, if budget
allows, reclaimed ones), stone or render colour, will
help the new addition blend in,’ advises Jeremy
Preston-Jones of Malbrook Conservatories.
PLANNINGSome extensions are allowed
without a planning application under permitted
development. Current legislation allows for a
single-storey rear extension with a maximum height
of 4m, which must not extend beyond the rear of the
original house by more than 3m for an attached
house or by 4m for a detached property (for more
details, visit planningportal.gov.uk). If a scheme
has to go through planning, the only reliable rule is
that there is no rule, says Jeremy. ‘Some planners and
conservation officers are a law unto themselves and
almost impossible to second-guess. Sometimes they
will prefer the new extension to blend in with the
architecture of the area, and other times the exact
opposite is welcomed and a very modern or
minimalist design is preferred.’MARRYING OLD AND NEWIn the case
of listed buildings, it’s vital to get the design balance
right when adding modern glass extensions. ‘Planners
are starting to favour the marriage of old and new
with glass boxes just “kissing” the original building,’
says Mark Caulfield of The Caulfield Company.
Architect Gregory Phillips agrees: ‘I’ve learned that
when designing an extension for a grand Victorian
building, the architecture needs to have some gravitas,
otherwise it runs the risk of looking like so many
other ill-conceived additions, or worse, pastiche.
Having something bold and modern doesn’t compete
with an older building – it accentuates it,’ he says.INSIDER INSIGHT
TOP TIPS FOR PLANNING AN EXTENSION
PRIME OAK
Celebrating its 20th
anniversary this year, all
the structural frames are
manufactured using
air-dried seasoned oak
to ensure quality and
suitability, primeoak.co.uk.GREGORY PHILLIPS
ARCHITECTS
This award-winning London-
based practice has decades
of experience in creating
design-led extensions, with all
projects fully managed,
gregoryphillips.com.WESTBURY
GARDEN ROOMS
Alongside orangeries and
garden rooms, you can also
get help transforming side
returns and lower ground
floors, westburygarden
rooms.com.&DESIGN