The client approached us wanting an overall scheme for front and back garden, with the intent to deliver that in phases focusing on the principal construction of garden room, garage, and driveway first, with the rest of the hard and soft landscaping in the back garden to follow as and when budgets allow. The property is an impressive Georgian residence that has been beautifully extended and refurbished, now it was about creating an outside space to match. A teenage den and home gym in the garden, a larger patio, good access from house to garden room, making the most of the space to the side of the property and remodelling the front driveway and garden to provide that kerb appeal with the practical needs of parking 3+ cars off the road.
For this job, we ensured we designed the garden room, garage, and driveway to fall within permitted development criteria. It is always essential to be 100% sure that the design does conform and so working with the Planning Office to obtain a certificate of lawful development is a relatively painless process in order to get a formal letter to confirm that the works were within your permitted development rights. This is essential for the onward sale of the property.
To date we have a 100% success rate of obtaining certificates of lawful development and/or planning permission for our projects. We believe we achieve that by considered design, our understanding and experience of planning matters, and a collaborative non confrontational approach with the respective Planning Office to achieve the clients’ aims while understanding what the relevant Council is trying to achieve also.
The garden room was designed as a timber structure, clad in larch and packed with insulation, with underfloor heating and an efficient log burner for year-round use, sitting beautifully in its woodland surroundings. Left as one large room with an en-suite bathroom, it was predominately intended to be used as a social space for chilling out in with a games room, but there is flexibility for it to become a gym with minimum effort. The exterior of the room was laid with 40m2 of larch decking, large enough to be able to comfortably seat a dining table and chairs.
A 16m2 garage was designed in to make use of the wasted space to the far side of the house. We have incorporated enough room for a small car, but mainly for general storage. With a further door out to the garden, this space is perfect for the storing of garden tools and equipment as well as racking for bicycles.
The design of the garage and outside area enabled us to free up more outside space for the front driveway and garden.
With space at a premium in most places these days, particularly in towns and cities, it was a priority to design a practical front driveway space in order to maximise parking and turning for our clients cars as well as their visitors, whilst also being mindful of privacy to the front of the property. This shows the area before the design which presents a few challenges in terms of practicality.
The existing front garden was cleared and levelled, creating enough room to comfortably park 4 cars, for them to turn easily and exit safely onto the main road. It was also important to be able to have enough space for a skip and lorry to enter for any future works.
A large overgrown hedge 2m deep on the front boundary was removed and a retaining wall and built in planters put in place.
Contemporary planting was designed in, incorporating Lime trees (Tilia cordata) and Amelanchiers, a formal hedge of Portuguese Laurels (Prunus lusitanica) softened with Hydrangeas and Hakonechloas.
