If you’re considering adding space and light to your home, an orangery is likely on your shortlist. But with so much information online, and most of it written by companies hundreds of miles away. It can be difficult to know what actually applies to your property, your budget and your plans.
Here’s what North East homeowners need to know: what an orangery is, how it differs from a conservatory, which designs suit different properties, what the planning rules are, and how to make sure you can use the space comfortably all year round.
What Is an Orangery?
An orangery sits somewhere between a traditional conservatory and a full brick extension.
It combines solid walls, typically brick or stone pillars that match your existing property, with large glazed panels and a flat roof featuring a central roof lantern.
That mix of solid structure and glass gives an orangery a distinctive character. You get the natural light and garden connection of a conservatory, but with the warmth and privacy of a proper extension. It’s why orangeries work so well as kitchen extensions, dining rooms, living spaces and home offices. They feel like a natural part of the house rather than something bolted on. Every element can be tailored to your property, from the frame colours and finishes to the glazing style and roof design. That level of customisation is one of the reasons orangeries suit such a wide range of homes, whether you’re matching the brickwork on a period terrace or going for a more contemporary finish.
The roof lantern is one of the defining features. It floods the room with overhead light without the temperature extremes of a fully glazed conservatory roof, which matters in the North East where we get everything from bright summer days to driving winter rain within the same week.
How an Orangery Differs from a Conservatory
The lines between the two have blurred over the years, but there are still clear structural differences that affect how each space looks, feels and performs.
A conservatory is predominantly glass: glass walls, glass roof, often with a dwarf wall at the base. It maximises light and garden views, and modern conservatories with quality glazing perform far better than older polycarbonate designs. But even a well-built conservatory tends to feel more open and garden-facing than room-like.
An orangery has more stone or brickwork in its structure. The solid perimeter walls and flat roof section provide better thermal performance and sound insulation, while the roof lantern and full-height glazed panels still bring in generous natural light. The result is a space that feels warmer and quieter, closer to a traditional room with exceptional views.
Will an Orangery Work for Your Property?
Almost certainly, but the design needs to respond to your space, not work against it. The most common concerns we hear from homeowners usually come down to three practical questions.
How much garden space do I need?
Usually less than you might think.
Many homes across Newcastle have narrow or shallow rear gardens, and a well-proportioned orangery does not need a huge footprint to make a real difference. If space is limited, a side-return design can make use of the underused passageway alongside your house. A compact rear orangery with a depth of even three or four metres can transform a dark kitchen into a bright, open living space.
The key is getting the proportions right so the orangery feels generous inside without taking over the garden.
How will it connect to my existing rooms?
This is often the most important question, and one many homeowners do not think about early enough. One of the most popular uses for an orangery is as a kitchen extension, and that works so well because the cooking and dining space can flow naturally out towards the garden.
The connection between your existing house and the new orangery has a big impact on both the build and the feel of the space. A wide opening with minimal framing creates a seamless flow, while a narrower opening makes it feel more like a separate room. Both can work well, depending on how you want to use the space.
What if I’m in a conservation area? This is where an orangery can actually work in your favour. The structure uses solid walls, matching brickwork and a more traditional roofline rather than being made up mostly of glass.
Because of that, planning officers in conservation areas across Northumberland and County Durham often view orangeries more favourably than fully glazed conservatories.
In our experience, the design tends to sit more naturally alongside existing architecture, which can make the approval process more straightforward. That said, every property is different.
Planning Permission: What You Need to Know
Most orangeries in England do not require planning permission because they fall within permitted development rights. As a single-storey rear extension, your orangery may qualify as long as it stays within certain size limits, usually no more than 3 metres beyond the rear wall for terraced and semi-detached homes, or 4 metres for detached properties.
There are also additional rules around height, proximity to boundaries and total site coverage, so it is always worth checking with your local planning authority before moving ahead. Properties in conservation areas, listed buildings and homes affected by Article 4 Directions are subject to different rules. And permitted development rights may be limited or removed altogether. Building regulations approval is required whether or not planning permission is needed.
This covers things like structural stability, energy efficiency, ventilation and glazing safety. A good installer will usually manage this as part of the project, so it should not add unnecessary stress to the process.
The Planning Portal has detailed guidance on permitted development limits if you want to check what applies to your specific property.
Keeping Your Orangery Comfortable Year-Round
One of the biggest concerns homeowners raise, especially if they have previously had a cold conservatory, is whether an orangery can really be used comfortably throughout the year. In most cases, the answer is yes, but only when it is designed and built properly.
The solid walls and insulated roof of an orangery already offer much better thermal performance than a traditional conservatory. High-quality glazing, well-insulated foundations and draught-free construction all help create a space that keeps warmth in during winter and stays comfortable during summer.
Roof glazing also makes a noticeable difference. Ambience roof glass, which we fit as standard on our orangeries, helps regulate temperature by reflecting unwanted solar heat in summer while retaining warmth in winter.
It also offers excellent sound insulation, which is especially valuable during heavy rain or windy weather, particularly in more exposed parts of the North East.
Heating options include extending your existing central heating, installing underfloor heating, which is a popular choice with tiled or stone floors, or using standalone electric heating. If you are also considering a warm roof sunroom as an alternative, it is worth comparing both options during a design consultation.
Is an Orangery Right for Your Home?
An orangery can add valuable living space and natural light to almost any property, and for homes in the North East, the more solid construction often makes it better suited to our climate than many alternatives.
Whether you are extending a kitchen, creating a new living room or adding a dining area overlooking the garden, a bespoke design allows the orangery to be shaped around both your home and the way you want to live in it.
If you would like to see examples of orangeries we have designed and installed across Newcastle and Northumberland, our gallery is a good place to start. And if you are ready to explore what might work for your property, get in touch to arrange a free design consultation. We will visit your home, talk through your ideas and give you honest advice on the best way forward.