Orangery or Conservatory: What’s the Difference?

An orangery has more brickwork and a larger proportion of solid roof than a conservatory, with glazing typically concentrated in the walls and a central roof lantern. This solid construction gives an orangery better thermal performance and a more permanent, “always been there” feel.

A conservatory, by contrast, is mostly glass, including the roof. It’s usually cheaper to build but can be harder to keep comfortable in the height of summer or the depths of winter.

Because of the extra solid roof and brickwork, an orangery is often treated by planning authorities as a single storey extension, which brings different building regulations requirements to a conservatory. We’ll explain exactly where your project sits during your free consultation.

How Our Clients Use Their Orangeries

Kitchen and Dining Space
Open your kitchen into an orangery to create a bright, sociable space for cooking and eating together, with garden views from every angle.

Garden Room
A quiet, light-filled space for reading, relaxing or simply enjoying the garden without leaving the comfort of home.

Home Office
The natural light in an orangery makes it a genuinely pleasant place to work, with a sense of separation from the rest of the house.

Entertaining Space
Orangeries make wonderful spaces for hosting family and friends, particularly with bifold or sliding doors that open the room straight onto the garden in warmer months.

Contact us to discuss your Orangery project!

Design Features

Brick Pillars
Solid pillars at the corners and between glazed sections give an orangery its distinctive, grounded look. We can match your existing brickwork or use a complementary contrast.

Roof Lantern
A central glazed lantern draws light down into the room from above, often the single biggest factor in how bright and open an orangery feels.

Bifold or Sliding Doors
Wide opening doors connect your orangery to the garden, ideal for entertaining and for making the most of good weather.

Under-Floor Heating
Without radiators taking up wall space, under-floor heating gives an even, comfortable warmth and more flexibility with furniture layout.

Planning Permission

Whether your orangery needs planning permission depends on its size, position and how far it projects from your house. Many orangeries at the rear of a property fall under permitted development, meaning no formal application is needed, provided they stay within set size and height limits.

An orangery built to the side of the house, on designated land such as a conservation area, or on a listed building, is more likely to need planning permission. Because orangeries usually include a substantial solid roof, they’re also generally subject to full building regulations approval, covering structure, insulation and electrics, in a way that a fully glazed conservatory may not be.

We’ll assess your specific property and proposed design during your free consultation, and handle any planning or building regulations applications on your behalf.

How Long Does an Orangery Take?

Most orangery projects take around 8 to 12 weeks from groundworks to completion, depending on size and specification.

Weeks 1-2: Foundations and groundworks
Weeks 3-5: Brick pillars and roof structure
Weeks 6-8: Glazing, roof lantern, and first fix electrics and plumbing
Weeks 9-12: Plastering, decoration, flooring and finishing touches

What Does an Orangery Cost?

Costs vary depending on size, glazing specification and finish, and are generally higher than a conservatory but can offer better value than a full brick extension of the same size. During your free consultation, we’ll talk through your budget honestly and provide a detailed, itemised quote so you know exactly what you’re paying for.

Why Choose Rosebrick Developments

Bespoke Design
Every orangery we build is designed around your property and how you want to use the space, not taken off a shelf.

Solid Construction
We build orangeries to proper extension standards, so they’re warm, weathertight and built to last.

Local Knowledge
Years of experience across Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire means we understand local planning authorities and what works for different property types.

One Point of Contact
From design through planning, building regulations, construction and finishing, you deal with one team throughout.

Start Your Orangery Project

Contact Rosebrick Developments for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll visit your property, talk through your ideas, and provide a detailed quote.