Work In The Garden
Not so long ago gardens were exclusively for leisure. For lying around in, pottering in, eating al fresco, barbecues, bonfires, boules and swingball.
But as 2009 progresses the picture is looking very different. Once a haven of relaxation, gardens are turning into hives of activity as people all over the UK go to work in the garden. As the recession points Britain towards a new way of living, people want much more from their green spaces. These days, in addition to a lawn, shrubs and flowers, many people are serious about growing their own produce and keeping chickens, others are bringing their businesses home to roost in their garden buildings.
Just like our ancestors in pre-industrial revolution agrarian communities, we’re returning to our roots. Not so much a nation of shopkeepers, more a nation of smallholders as we spend more time working at home, from home and in our homes!
An amazing 4.2m businesses in the UK employ less than 10 people and in today’s unpredictable economic climate, many small businesses are strengthening their financial position by taking their business home. It is no longer just the self-employed and home-workers who run their businesses from home. Micro businesses are also saying goodbye to rented offices in town centres and taking their staff home with them to a fully functional garden home office at the bottom of the garden.
Nigel Peters’ business was paying more than £10,000 a year rent for an office that was half an hour’s commute away from his home in Surrey. Last autumn he decided to move back home and contacted InsideOut Buildings. “InsideOuts’ offices aren’t cheap, but they’re absolutely ideal.” He said. “We wanted an eco-friendly building that we’d be proud to bring clients to, but also a comfortable working environment that would house the business for years to come and that compliments the main house. Staying at home with the dog and the chickens is much better than commuting and we feel we’re doing our bit for the environment by cutting down on commuting and heating bills.’
InsideOut are seeing a huge increase in this type of enquiry. “One of the key questions for small business owners who want to take their business home is ‘Can I employ people in a garden home office ?"
The answer is yes, as long as you have the approval of your local planning department. They will assess your plans, taking into consideration things like the nature of your business and the availability of parking spaces. If your garden office is for your own personal use, you might not need planning permission.
InsideOut have just completed an eco-friendly office in the garden for Patrick Boggan of Tarnside Consulting, in the beautiful Lyth Valley just outside Kendal. Tarnside is a fundraising and management consultancy that works with charities: a thriving business that already employs four people working inside Patrick’s family home. He and his family wanted to regain control of their home, which is where InsideOut stepped in.
Despite the fact that Tarnside Consulting is in the Lake District National Park, Patrick was still given planning permission to house his business in an InsideOut office in the garden. The company’s new office even has a shower room for employees who cycle to work.
People who already work at home who are desperate to move to a larger house but unable to sell their current home are finding that a good alternative is to build an office in the garden instead.
Sally Heneghan of South Wales, who chose a garden office rather than moving, says, “Creating an office was a great deal cheaper – and faster – than moving to a bigger house. The thing that really sold the idea to us was that Inside Out’s garden home offices are built to last a lifetime. They’re also beautiful to look at, designed with sensitivity and a genuine appreciation of their surroundings.”
It is wise to bear in mind that taking your business home doesn’t mean you can leave legislation on the doorstep! If you’re planning to bring employees into your office in the garden, buildings with more than 30sq metres of floor space must meet a variety of stringent regulations regarding structural standards, insulation levels, fireproofing, access and facilities for people with restricted physical mobility. But whatever the size, InsideOut’s garden offices are built to the same strict Building Regulations specifications as a new home.
As our life/work values change we all want our gardens to work harder for us. Thankfully building in your garden isn’t as complex as you might think and the results can be stunning. Bringing your work home can be rewarding financially and emotionally – perhaps our ancestors had it right all along!
