Room to work
As growing numbers of people follow the trend to have a home office in their garden – do your research, writes Beverley Brown
AS you step outside into the spring sunshine spare a thought for the poor fairies who have been rudely displaced from their homes at the bottom of the garden to make way for garden buildings in all manner of shapes and sizes. Common-or-garden sheds have taken a hit in favour of posher and more user-friendly summerhouses, futuristic-looking pods, traditional shepherd’s huts, turf-roofed eco garden rooms, self-sufficient granny abodes, even treehouses – and all in response to a virus that put life on hold and forced us to rethink our work-life balance.
Be it urban or rural locations, in most cases the common denominator is a desire for a garden in which to house a separate building of some sort to serve as a home office – the new musthave – personal retreat, playroom, gym, hobby studio or something on a larger scale to upsize accommodation, from a luxurious en-suite guest bedroom or modular building capable of housing an elderly relative or student/young adult.
Before you explore the market for bespoke and off-the-shelf garden buildings there are things you need to know. Planning is the first consideration. While in most instances you are unlikely to need planning permission, it is required in particular circumstances, including size, height, proximity to a boundary and conservation area status, and whether the proposed building is for commercial or private use. Size and scale in relation to the garden and proximity to the house are also important.
Other elements will be determined by a garden building’s function – full year-round use will require practicalities such as insulation, connection to mains electricity, heating, lighting, ventilation and double-glazing, while an office will require a broadband connection, desk, and storage or shelving. Depending on budget, other options include a wood-burning stove, fitted furniture, kitchen facilities, bathroom and external decking. In most instances, your garden pod or building will be factory built, and delivered and installed ready for use.
Costs vary according to a building’s size, whether it is a modular or bespoke design, the quality of materials used, level of insulation and specification for doors, windows, interior and exterior finishes. For a modular style a rough guide price range would be between £2,000 and £40,000 and for a completely bespoke building from £800 to £1,600 per square metre. The good news is that a garden building can add value to your home – anywhere from 5-15 per cent, according to estate agents – and home workers can also offset the time and financial costs of commuting to and from work on a daily basis.
Security is a must for any garden building, including a humble storage shed given the cost of replacing garden tools. Window blinds are also good for concealing what’s inside the building when it is not being used. Other precautions should include external lighting – ideally of the passive infrared sensor type, which detects infrared energy produced by body heat. Also consider laying a gravel path or surround which is noisy underfoot.
Currently selling faster than the proverbial hot cakes, the only question left has to be: what will you do with yours?