Modern Garden Room, Worsley

The project – Modern Garden Room in Worsley

Brief

PJH Architectural Services were appointed by our clients back in 2021, to work with them on a number of projects around their property simultaneously, looking to transform their striking, traditional Victorian dwelling into a sophisticated ‘forever home’ for them and their growing family, fit for the modern family lifestyle. The works were split into two key elements, the interior works, inclusive of a contemporary loft conversion (Greenleach Lane – Worsley, Manchester), and exterior works comprising a major overhaul to the front garden to create designated parking for 2 vehicles, and a modern garden room in the Worsley property to allow the family to take full advantage of their green spaces in the warm summer months and create an all year round exercise and relaxation space.

Our clients fell in love with their Victorian property as soon as they saw it and had every intention of making it their forever home. Following a thorough and informative consultation with our clients, PJH were delighted to be appointed to help to guide them through the process and bring their dreams into fruition.

Design

The external works were split into two phases; in the first of which, PJH looked to transform the front of the site in order to provide designated parking to the property, as well as improving the overall kerb appeal of the site. The existing dwelling is raised significantly from the street level, and as such the detached property appears to stand proud on the street. While our clients home boasts a commanding presence upon approach, the front garden was tired and under loved, and in need of some serious consideration in order to provide the same strong presence as the Victorian dwelling it served. A small existing path, tucked away to the side of the garden beneath a series of overgrown trees wasn’t the entrance befitting of such an elegant home. PJH worked alongside our client to present a series of proposals for their consideration, encompassing all elements of their brief – 2 dedicated parking spaces, a supplementary pedestrian entrance, and maximisation of green space.

Retaining the character of the traditional dwelling, the proposals for the garden overhaul looked to replicate the symmetry of the property; a new footpath cuts through the centre of the garden, forming a central focal point upon approach to the dwelling. To the front of the site, over 350 tonnes of earth were removed from the raised site to create the new driveway. In order to retain the character of the site, much of the brickwork removed in creating the new opening for the driveway was reused within the retaining walls, inclusive of the decorative brick capping details to ensure the proposals tied in seamlessly with the original features. The driveway is complete with an elegant metal electric sliding gate for a real sense of regality! On the opposite side, a series of quaint stepped planters enhance the natural approach on site – once these shrubs have settled and fully grown, the frontage to the property will truly feel complete.

A series of additional external works & ECO measures were considered throughout the project, in order to provide sustainable & renewable energy solutions to our clients home. Our clients decided to invest in the installation of solar panels to their property, allowing them to drastically reduce their overall energy bills. On average, solar panels have a payback time of around 10 years, so well worth the consideration in the modern climate – see PJH ECO SERIES: Solar Panel Retrofit To Existing Dwellings.

The second phase of the external works looked to provide our clients with the opportunity to really make the most of their external space throughout the year – the new modern garden room in Worsley takes full advantage of a redundant corner of the property and provides new opportunities for our clients to utilise their garden. Internally, the garden room offers exactly that – an elegant new space for our clients to relax outside in the summer months, and in the winter months providing a cosy area to enjoy their garden without having to brave the cold and wet! As a keen runner, our client wanted to create a separate space where he can enjoy those long hours on a running machine (without having to endure the good old UK winter weather).

In contrast to the main dwelling, the garden room has been designed as a contemporary, standout addition to the plot rather than attempting to blend into its surroundings. A crisp, clean, white render finish is framed & enhanced by a bold aluminium projecting surround detail – all to provide a truly modern, contemporary aesthetic. The garden room has been designed to maximise natural lighting and enhance views out into the garden. A slimline picture window on the side elevation provides uninterrupted views out, while a set of bifolding doors to the front allow for the garden room to be opened up completely, seamlessly blending the interior & exterior spaces.

Typically, once a design has been finalised, we would look to submit a planning application to the local authority, however the works for the modern garden room in Worsley have been designed within Permitted Development rights, meaning formal planning approval isn’t required. At PJH, we always recommend obtaining a CLD (Certificate of Lawful Development) if you’re looking to complete works under Permitted Development – this gives you confirmation that you can do the works under PD, and is particularly useful when the time comes to sell the house as formal acknowledgement of the works.

Building Regulations & Tender

Once the relevant approvals were obtained on our clients modern garden room in Worsley, exterior garden works & loft conversion, PJH produced a complete set of detailed Building Regulations & Tender drawings, encompassing all elements of the projects. These gave our clients everything they needed to go out to a selection of local, reputable contractors to receive accurate quotes for the complete works.

PJH also provided comprehensive site supervision throughout the duration of the works – through our site supervision service, we undertake regular site visits to ensure that works are progressing well and ensure the construction process runs as smoothly as possible, providing regular dialogue between the client, contractor, building control and other industry professionals to help iron out any potential snags on site. This service has proven to be invaluable, it assists the client and ensures that the contractor has access to professional and impartial advice throughout the build, which helps maintain budgets and programme times.

Works were completed in 2023 and our clients are now settling back into their stunning forever home – it’s always exciting to return to site to see the finished article, see the project gallery for a selection of completed photos from the project!

Thinking of pursuing something similar to this project? Feel free to take a look at some of our blogs:

Potential Permitted Development Home Extension Changes In 2024.
PJH ECO SERIES: Solar Panel Retrofit To Existing Dwelling
The Value Of Detailed Architectural Drawings

If you need any advice on the first steps of designing and planning an external renovation project, extension or new build feel free to get in touch for a brief chat, we are here to help.

Email: enquiry@pjhas.co.uk

Tel: 0161 4600382