Bespoke Orangeries for Homes in Whickham

Framing the View Across the Derwent Valley

Some of the best positions in Whickham look out over the Derwent valley, and an orangery is one of the few extensions that can be designed around that outlook from the start. Rather than adding a room and then deciding where the windows go, we begin with the line of sight from the kitchen, the dining table or a favourite chair, and arrange the glazing to frame it.

That might mean a wide run of sliding doors facing the valley, with solid piers on the sides that face neighbours or the prevailing weather. It might mean full-height glazing at one end only, so the view reads like a picture rather than a wall of glass. A roof lantern adds daylight from above without competing with the outlook, and keeps the room bright on grey days when the far side of the valley is harder to make out. The various door and window configurations each frame a view in their own way.

Which Way Should a Whickham Orangery Face?

On a flat, sheltered plot, orientation is mostly about sunlight. On higher ground it is also about wind, and the two do not always point the same way.

South and West Facing

A south or west facing orangery collects plenty of afternoon and evening sun, which is welcome for much of the year but can overheat a heavily glazed room in summer. Solar control glass, opening vents in the lantern and a partly solid roof all help to keep temperatures comfortable.

North and East Facing

A north or east facing room receives softer, more even light and stays cooler. Here the priority is usually keeping heat in, with well-insulated roof sections, high-performance glazing and reliable heating. Our guide to heating, lighting and flooring covers the main options.

When the View and the Sun Disagree

Sometimes the best view faces north while the sun arrives from the other side of the house. In that case the roof lantern can bring in sunlight from above while the wall glazing concentrates on the outlook, so you gain both without having to give up either.

Glazing and Comfort on Exposed High Ground

An orangery on open, high ground is more exposed to wind-driven rain and to cold air moving across the garden than one tucked into a sheltered yard. The way the room is built makes a real difference to how it feels in January, and on Whickham's higher plots that difference is easy to notice.

Solid walls and piers on the most exposed sides give the structure weight and shelter. Doors should be chosen for weather performance as well as appearance, with thresholds detailed to keep driving rain out. Insulated roof sections around a central lantern, rather than a fully glazed roof, help the room hold its warmth, and good ventilation prevents condensation when the temperature outside drops. Done well, the room can be used right through the year, as our guide to year-round orangeries explains.

Village Stone and Suburban Brick

Whickham has two quite different housing characters. The historic village core contains older stone properties, while the streets around it include later suburban homes. An orangery that looks right on one would often look out of place on the other.

Older Stone Properties

For a stone house, the base walls and piers can be built in natural stone or a closely matched alternative, with frame colours that sit quietly against the masonry. Traditional proportions, a cornice at the roofline and a raised lantern usually suit these homes better than a very minimal design, although a carefully detailed contemporary room can also work where it stays clearly secondary to the original building.

Later Suburban Homes

On a newer house there is more freedom. Brick to match the existing walls, a flat roof with a slim-framed lantern and wide glazed doors can give a modern home a clean, light extension. Our comparison of modern and traditional designs sets out the differences in more detail.

Conservation Area Rules in the Old Village

The historic core of Whickham is a conservation area, and planning matters for the village are handled by Gateshead Council. Some permitted development rights are reduced in conservation areas, so an orangery that would not need planning permission elsewhere may need an application here. Listed buildings require listed building consent for most alterations, and trees in a conservation area or covered by a tree preservation order are protected, which can matter where an extension comes close to established planting.

Outside the conservation area, many single-storey rear extensions on houses can be built under permitted development if they meet the limits, although flats and maisonettes have no householder permitted development rights. Building regulations approval is needed separately in most cases. The Planning Portal guide to planning permission for extensions is a helpful place to start.

From First Sketch to Finished Room

An orangery for a Whickham home begins with a conversation about the house, the garden and the view you want to capture. If it helps to see materials and finishes before deciding, ask about a design consultation. Once a design and specification are agreed, the work moves through foundations and base walls to the roof, glazing and doors, and finally the interior.