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WINTER GARDEN MARKET BEGINS TO BLOOM Julian Sargent, group managing director for UK partitioning experts, Style, examines how internal residential space can be maximised whilst still meeting the demand from home buyers for a private outdoor area. The importance of having access to the outdoors was dramatically highlighted this year by the restrictions caused by the pandemic and, for those living in apartments, the lockdown was particularly testing. Although balconies certainly offer a great opportunity for the clapping of key workers and even the occasional community sing-a-long, they do come at a price, potentially reducing precious internal floor area. They also often go under-utilised, being too cold and windy for practical enjoyment much of the year, especially on north-facing residential tower blocks. Offering home-buyers the best of both worlds, the winter garden has become a fashionable accessory for new high-rise developments, offering versatile indoor-outdoor space for year-round use. Their popularity in the Capital particularly soared after the Mayor of London published planning guidance in 2016 which stated that private open space is highly valued and should be provided in all new housing developments. The document went on to say that where site constraints make it impossible to provide private open space for all dwellings, enclosing balconies as glazed, ventilated winter gardens can be considered as an acceptable alternative to open balconies. Reflecting this shift in priorities, it has been estimated that over 60% of new apartments in London now have some type of outside space – three times the level of a decade ago (Galliard Homes).
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