Conservatory extensions in Nottingham
A conservatory extension is a mainly glazed room built onto the rear or side of a house, usually on a low dwarf wall, with a roof of glass, polycarbonate or a solid warm-roof system. It is a lighter build than a brick extension and, if it meets a set of conditions, it can be exempt from Building Regulations approval.
This page covers roof choices, how to design against overheating and glare, and exactly what keeps a conservatory exempt. To compare it with an orangery or a glazed extension first, see our orangeries and conservatories comparison.
- Glass, polycarbonate or solid warm-roof options
- Building Regulations exemption explained
- Free site survey and a written, itemised quotation
A mostly glazed room on your house
Most conservatories have a dwarf brick wall around the base, large glazed panels above it and a glazed, polycarbonate or solid roof. Because so much of the structure is glass, the room is bright and closely connected to the garden. The same glass is why design matters: it lets in sun in summer and loses heat in winter more readily than an insulated solid wall.
People use conservatories as dining rooms, garden rooms, playrooms, home offices and family snugs. The room sits between a porch and a full brick rear extension in both scale and build time.
A conservatory also has a particular position in the rules. If it is kept separate from the house and meets the other conditions below, it can be built without Building Regulations approval. If it opens fully into the house, it is treated as an extension.
Best for
Homeowners who want a light-filled room on a shorter build programme than a brick extension, and who are happy for it to stay separated from the house by doors.
Typical time on site
Around 3 to 6 weeks, depending on size, roof type and groundwork. This is an indicative range, not a guarantee.
Choosing a conservatory roof
The roof has the biggest effect on how the room feels and on which rules apply.
Glass roof
The most light and the strongest link to the sky and garden. It also lets in the most sun, so glazing specification, ventilation and blinds need planning, particularly on a south- or west-facing room.
Polycarbonate roof
A lighter-weight translucent roof. It lets light through without clear views of the sky. Ask how it will perform for noise in heavy rain and for heat in summer.
Lantern roof
A raised glazed feature over part of the room. It concentrates light where it is placed and gives the ceiling more shape.
Solid warm roof
An insulated roof with a plastered ceiling inside. It gives a more room-like ceiling and cuts direct sun from above. A largely solid roof usually means the structure no longer counts as a conservatory for Building Regulations, so approval is likely to be needed.
Designing against overheating and glare
A conservatory can get hot on a sunny afternoon and cool on a winter evening. Neither is a reason to avoid one, but both should shape the design from the start.
- Check the orientation. South- and west-facing rooms get the most direct sun. A north-facing conservatory gets steadier, softer light.
- Match the roof to the aspect. A fully glazed roof on a sunny elevation needs more thought than the same roof facing north.
- Ask about the glass. Solar-control and low-emissivity glass are both available for roofs and walls. Ask what is proposed and why.
- Plan ventilation. Opening windows, roof vents and doors on more than one side let warm air escape.
- Plan for glare. If the room will hold a TV, a desk or a worktop, decide on blinds and furniture positions early.
- Think about heating. Any heating must be independent of the house, with its own controls, if you want to keep the Building Regulations exemption.
Frames and finishes
Frame material, colour and glazing bar layout change the look and the price. We talk through the options for your house at the survey.
When a conservatory is exempt from Building Regulations
A conservatory can be exempt from Building Regulations approval only while it meets all of these conditions:
- The floor area is 30 square metres or less.
- It is at ground level.
- It is separated from the house by external-quality walls, doors or windows.
- It has independent heating with its own temperature and on/off controls, or no heating at all.
- The glazing meets safety glazing requirements, and any new electrical work still complies with the electrical safety rules.
Break any condition and the room needs approval like an extension. That includes changes made later.
How the exemption is usually lost
- Removing the doors between the house and conservatory
- Connecting it to the house central heating
- Building it larger than 30 square metres
- Fitting a largely solid roof
Do you need planning permission?
Permitted development limits, in brief
A conservatory may fall under permitted development, depending on the property and any restrictions. As a general guide in England:
- Rear additions can extend up to 4m on a detached house or 3m on other houses, or up to 8m and 6m through the prior approval process.
- No more than 4m high, and no more than 3m to the eaves within 2m of a boundary.
- Extensions and outbuildings must not cover more than half the land around the original house.
- The rule that exterior materials must look similar to the house does not apply to conservatories.
Listed buildings, conservation areas, Article 4 directions and earlier planning conditions can change the position, so your property needs to be checked. Planning and Building Regulations are separate: a conservatory can fall under permitted development and still need Building Regulations approval.
Good to know
If the design appears to fall under permitted development, a lawful development certificate from your council confirms it in writing.
How your conservatory extension comes together
Free site survey
We measure up, check ground conditions and orientation, and talk through how you want to use the room.
Design and quotation
We set out the style, roof and glazing, then give you a written, itemised quotation.
Approvals
We confirm whether the design may fall under permitted development and whether it can stay exempt from Building Regulations.
Foundations and base
Footings and an insulated base are laid to support the structure.
Build and glazing
The dwarf walls go up, then the frames, glazing and roof are fitted and weatherproofed.
Finishing
Electrics, flooring, heating and decoration are completed.
Handover
We walk you through the room, pass on any guarantees and certificates, and clear the site.
Conservatory extension costs
Indicative 2026 guide ranges, not quotes. Your price comes in a written, itemised quotation after a free survey.
| Type | Approx. size | Indicative guide range |
|---|---|---|
| Compact glazed conservatory | Up to 12 sq m | £15,000 – £22,000 |
| Standard conservatory extension | 12 – 20 sq m | £22,000 – £32,000 |
| Large conservatory with warm roof | 20 – 30 sq m | £32,000 – £48,000 |
| Premium conservatory kitchen-diner | 30 sq m and above | £48,000+ |
Costs vary with size, glazing specification, roof type, heating and groundwork. A solid roof, a floor area over 30 square metres or a room opened fully into the house usually brings Building Regulations approval, and its requirements, into the budget.
See the work before you decide
Photos tell you more than a paragraph of promises. Our project gallery is organised by extension type, so you can look at finished work before you book a survey.
Our reviews page explains how we check feedback: a review is only published once it has been matched to a real job. That is also why you won’t find anonymous testimonials on this page.
Ask for a reference
At your site survey, ask us for a past customer with a similar conservatory you can speak to. It’s the most direct way to hear how a project ran from someone who lived through it.
Conservatory extensions across Nottingham
Not sure if we cover your street? Get in touch and we will let you know.
Conservatory extension questions
Not if it meets every exemption condition: 30 square metres or less, at ground level, separated from the house by external-quality walls, doors or windows, and with independent heating or none. Safety glazing and electrical rules still apply. Otherwise it is treated as an extension and needs approval.
You can, but removing the separation between the house and the conservatory means it loses the exemption and must meet Building Regulations as an extension, including insulation standards. We advise on the options before work starts.
Plan for it in the design. Orientation, roof type, the glass specification, ventilation through roof vents and opening windows, and blinds all make a difference. A south- or west-facing room needs the most attention.
A glass roof for the most light, polycarbonate as a lighter translucent option, a lantern roof as a feature, or a solid warm roof for a plastered ceiling. A largely solid roof usually means Building Regulations approval is needed.
It depends on the property. Many conservatories may fall under permitted development within the size, height and garden coverage limits, but listed buildings, conservation areas and Article 4 directions can change that. We check your property during the survey.
Around 3 to 6 weeks on site is typical. Larger builds, or those needing more groundwork, can take longer. We give you a timeline with your quotation.
Our indicative guide ranges start around £15,000 to £22,000 for a compact conservatory, with larger warm-roof or kitchen-diner designs £32,000 and up. These are not quotes. You get a written, itemised quotation after a free survey.
Plan your conservatory with a free survey
Book a free site survey. We will look at orientation and roof options, tell you whether the design can stay exempt from Building Regulations, and give you a written, itemised quotation.