Cost guide · 2026
Conservatory&OrangeryCostinLondon2026
Complete 2026 pricing guide for conservatories and orangeries in London. Real cost ranges from completed projects across all 32 boroughs, broken down by structure type, glazing specification, planning route and zone.
Quick answer
A conservatory in London costs £35,000–£100,000 in 2025–2026. A lean-to conservatory starts from £35,000; a standard P-shape or T-shape conservatory £55,000–£80,000; a full-width rear conservatory £75,000–£100,000. An orangery with solid roof and brick pillars costs £80,000–£120,000. Cost per m² typically runs £1,900–£3,200. All Builderr quotes are fixed-price with no provisional sums.
What moves the price
The seven cost factors that matter most.
A 10m² lean-to costs £35,000–£50,000; a 20m² P-shape £65,000–£85,000; a 30m² full-width rear conservatory £85,000–£105,000. Each additional metre of depth (beyond 4m) adds approximately £6,000–£9,000.
Thermally broken powder-coated aluminium (most popular) costs 10–15% less than FSC-certified hardwood timber. Accoya (modified softwood) sits between the two on cost. Timber requires more maintenance but suits period properties better architecturally. uPVC is cheapest but generally refused in conservation areas.
Standard argon-filled double glazing (1.4 W/m²K) is baseline. Solar-control low-E glass (SHGC 0.25) adds £2,500–£5,000 on a 20m² roof — essential for south and west-facing aspects. Triple glazing adds £4,000–£8,000 over double. Self-cleaning glass on the roof adds £800–£2,000 but reduces maintenance significantly.
A permitted development conservatory requires an LDC at £220 + £1,500 preparation. Full planning in a conservation area adds £6,500–£10,000 in fees and 8–12 weeks. Building regulations (mandatory for orangeries and non-exempt conservatories) add £2,500–£4,000 for SAP calculation, structural drawings and inspector fees.
A standard strip foundation (300–450mm deep on stable clay) costs £4,500–£7,500. London's shrinkable clay requires 750mm–1,200mm depth near trees — piled or deep strip foundations: £8,000–£16,000. Properties over a basement or on sloping ground require bespoke structural design and groundwork costs can reach £20,000+.
Underfloor heating (wet, from existing boiler circuit) adds £3,500–£6,500 depending on area. Electric UFH is lower cost to install (£800–£1,800) but more expensive to run. Extending the existing radiator circuit adds £1,200–£2,500. An air-source heat pump cassette or multi-split unit (for both heating and cooling) adds £3,500–£6,000 installed.
Cost breakdown
Where the money actually goes.
Percentage breakdown of a typical mid-spec project. Add or subtract per your finish tier.
| Line item | % of total | £ on avg project |
|---|---|---|
| Groundworks & foundations | 13% | £10,075 |
| Dwarf wall & brickwork | 11% | £8,525 |
| Frame & roof structure | 18% | £13,950 |
| Glazing — walls | 14% | £10,850 |
| Glazing — roof | 12% | £9,300 |
| Doors | 8% | £6,200 |
| First fix MEP | 7% | £5,425 |
| Floor finish & second fix | 6% | £4,650 |
| Fees & approvals | 6% | £4,650 |
| Margin & contingency | 5% | £3,875 |
Real projects
Worked examples from completed builds.
London zones
Where your borough sits in the price band.
| Zone | Multiplier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 (W1, SW1, NW1, EC, WC) | 1.18–1.26× | Conservation, listed, tight access — surcharge for materials delivery and parking permits |
| Zone 2 (NW3, SW3, SW10, N1, E1, E2) | 1.10–1.16× | Conservation common, premium frame and glazing spec typical |
| Zone 3 (SW6, W6, NW5, N16, E5, E8) | 1.00–1.08× | Baseline London pricing |
| Zone 4 (SW17, W7, N8, E11, SE13) | 0.93–1.00× | Slightly below baseline, good access |
| Zone 5–6 (Outer boroughs) | 0.85–0.93× | Easier access, lower trade rates, less conservation restriction |
Builderr vs other London builders.
The construction industry has a wide distribution of operators. Here's what changes between a directly-employed, fixed-scope outfit and the alternatives.
| Criterion | Builderr | Typical London builder | Cowboy outfit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labour model | Directly employed team (PAYE) | Mixed subcontract gangs | Day-rate cash labour |
| Pricing | Fixed-scope itemised quote | Estimate + provisional sums | Verbal price + variations |
| Design & engineering | In-house architect + SE | Outsourced, separate billing | Builder draws on the back of an envelope |
| Planning + LDC handled | Yes — included in price | Often charged extra | Builder asks you to apply |
| Party wall surveyors | Instructed by us | Your responsibility | Skipped (illegal) |
| Building control | Plans + site inspections booked by us | Building Notice route | Not registered |
| Project management | Dedicated PM, weekly photo updates | Foreman doubles up | Owner-manager juggles 5 jobs |
| Payment schedule | Stage payments against signed-off milestones | Weekly invoices | Cash up front |
| Insurance | £10M PL + 10yr structural warranty | £2–5M PL only | No documented cover |
| Snags at handover | <3 typical | 20–30 typical | Walk-off mid-job common |
| Variation creep | 0% — fixed scope | +15–25% over original quote | +40%+ regularly |
Save £15,500–£34,875 on a conservatories & orangeries.
Industry data (FMB, RICS, Which? Trusted Trader 2024) shows the average London construction project overruns by 18–22% on cost and 25–35% on time. Fixed-scope contracts with a single accountable team eliminate that variance. The savings above assume a typical project at £77,500.
Related
See the full conservatories & orangeries service page.
FAQ
Conservatory & Orangery Cost in London:
common questions.
How much does a conservatory cost in London in 2026?
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In 2026, a lean-to conservatory in London starts at £35,000 for a 10m² build. A standard P-shape or T-shape (15–22m²) costs £55,000–£80,000. A full-width rear conservatory (25m² plus) runs £80,000–£105,000. An orangery with solid insulated roof and brick pillars costs £80,000–£120,000. Inner London (zones 1–2) adds 10–26% above these baseline figures. All Builderr quotes are fixed-price.
Is an orangery more expensive than a conservatory?
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Yes — typically 25–40% more. An orangery requires structural brickwork or stone pillar construction, a solid insulated roof with lantern (rather than a glazed pitch), an internal cornice and more substantial foundations. The additional cost is offset by better thermal performance (year-round use without auxiliary heating is realistic), better soundproofing (rain on glass is not an issue), longer lifespan, and typically greater planning acceptance in conservation areas.
Does a conservatory cost include VAT?
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Standard residential conservatory and orangery construction attracts VAT at 20%. The reduced 5% rate applies only in limited circumstances (e.g. converting to a substantially different number of dwellings, or work for disabled persons). Builderr quotes always state explicitly whether the price is inclusive or exclusive of VAT. Budget 20% on top of quoted ex-VAT prices if your builder is VAT-registered.
What is the cheapest conservatory I can build in London?
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A basic lean-to conservatory (8–10m², aluminium frame, standard double glazing, no underfloor heating) can be delivered for £32,000–£42,000 in London. Cost reductions come from: lean-to configuration (simplest roof geometry), standard aluminium over timber frame, flat or low-pitch polycarbonate or glass roof, and no underfloor heating (electric panel heater instead). We do not recommend reducing glazing specification to save cost — a poorly glazed conservatory overheats in summer and is unusable in winter.
How long does it take to build a conservatory in London?
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A lean-to conservatory takes 6–8 weeks on site. A standard P-shape or T-shape runs 9–11 weeks. A full-width rear conservatory or orangery: 12–14 weeks. Add 3–4 weeks for design and drawings, plus LDC application (6–8 weeks) or full planning (10–14 weeks) if required. Conservation area planning applications typically run 12–16 weeks from submission to decision.
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