The Project Manager: A garden office

A garden office can help you cultivate a different working life. From The Sunday Times, September 18, 2005

Siting, style and fittings

The first thing to think about is the site. When positioning the hut, consider which way windows will face to maximise light, and try to frame the best view. Choose a building that suits its surroundings — sleek Scandinavian in a modern environment, for example, or classical behind a Georgian house.

Think about the light: French doors give a garden feel, while glazed roof panels flood the space with light, but can make it difficult to see a computer screen and can turn a room into an oven in summer.

Heating is critical for year-round use. Consider underfloor heating — an electrical-mat system can cost as little as £200 and frees wall space otherwise taken up by radiators. Insulation in the walls, floor and roof is very important. Air-conditioning or a fan for the summer is a good idea, as computers generate a lot of heat. Make sure the structure has adequate soundproofing, too, particularly if it is sited near where children play.

Many purpose-built designs come equipped with furniture, power sockets, telecom ports, heating and lighting. Fitting out more basic structures with these will add considerably to the final bill.

Do I have the space — and will I need planning permission?

The minimum space for a very basic office structure is 2m by 2.5m. You are unlikely to need planning permission, unless your home has had previous extensions, is listed or you live in a conservation area.

If you submit a sketch showing the details and dimensions of the proposed construction and its position in relation to your house, your local authority’s planning officers should be able to advise, usually within two weeks, whether you need consent.

Generally, a one-storey structure more than 5m (16ft) from your house that doesn’t rest on foundations is classified as a shed or temporary building and doesn’t need planning permission; it comes under “permitted development rights”. It should stand no higher than 4m in the case of a ridged roof, and no higher than 3m for any other type of roof. It should occupy no more than half your garden. It must also be at least 1m from your boundary lines.

You can’t install a lavatory because that requires planning permission and would make the structure subject to building regulations on plumbing and waste disposal.

The options

If you have the skills, you can do it yourself — using a kit or building the office to your own design. Or you could have a builder put up a kit or a simple structure; or employ a “garden room” company to do the whole job. The quickest, easiest and most popular route is to have a firm build an office from prefabricated panels.

Companies at the more expensive end of the scale will usually do all the ground preparation for you, while a basic service will not — find out exactly what your quote covers.

Suppliers and costs

Shop around to find a structure that suits your space and needs. Hut Timber Buildings has “garden shed” designs that start at about £5,500, while those from Forest are even cheaper, starting at £3,000.

Henley Offices produces more lavish, fully-kitted-out models from £6,500. Ardis produces compact, fully-fitted models with a space-age feel at about £9,000. Sanctuary Home Offices cost from £8,000. Homestead Timber Buildings cost from £9,350. At the top end of the market, structures from The Garden Escape, Havenwood and The Home Office cost from £12,000 upwards.

Check whether installation charges and the cost of connecting the office to the electricity supply are included in the supplier’s quote before you commit yourself to buying.

Technicalities

If you have a limited budget, you can do some preparatory groundwork yourself to cut costs. The site should be firm and level and, if you are DIY-proficient, you can excavate and install a poured-concrete footing. Otherwise, a layer of compacted sand — available from builders’ merchants — or a paving-slab base is adequate.

Technology has made garden office use much easier — you could use a cordless phone from a base unit in your house if the distance allows, or you can set up a wireless computer network that lets you access your main domestic internet account from a laptop at the bottom of the garden.

Design and furnishing

Security is a big issue. Consider internal shutters, blinds or curtains to make sure valuable items such as laptops are not on view, along with security lighting, proper locks on doors and windows and possibly an alarm. Install more power-points than you think you will need.

What else do I need to know?

Inform your home insurer of your new room to make sure you are covered. Consider other uses for the structure — you might need an office now, but if it can double as a playroom, gym or garden pavilion it will increase the marketability of your property when you come to sell.