Dear all, Thanks for all your comments! Reading through them has helped me work out a bit more about what we actually want. Though we want to be as practical as possible and as useful as possible (ie temperature and glare are big considerations) we also want the wow factor to counteract the main house being a 1950s semi ex council style with low ceilings. It will be off the dining area, not off the kitchen area, and we already have full planning permission approval. I think it will be worth a fully glazed roof to give that wow factor, IF we can come up with a blind or other system to make it useable year round. It's good to hear the majority think curtains shouldn't be a problem, and downlights too. We're happy to have a little bit of structure so we can have curtains etc. The external awnings aren't cheap as you say. Think I'm probably leaning most towards something like a "SHY zip blind" motorised system or the lanternlite DIY electric roof lantern (they tell me it can fit onto a pitched roof and ballpark £1600 cost). These are internal motorised ones. Anyone got any experience with these motorised internal blinds for a larger area? do they work ok? Next question - is it possible to get self clean AND low-e/tinted/reduced glare glass? Or is it either /or? Thanks all!

I'm sure of the conservatory roof but now confused about the window being converted into a door. I think I will give them a call Either way, do they still want us to seek written permission for any alterations? Excerpts from Calthorpe Estate Residents handbook Page 11 Freehold properties Under the Scheme of Management, Written consent is obtained from Calthorpe Estates before undertaking any alterations to their property, whether internal structural alterations, new extensions, or alterations to the external visual appearance. Excerpts from Calthorpe Estate Residents handbook Page 27 Extensions and alterations::: --all extensions and external alterations must be approved by the Scheme of Management. Generally, rear extensions are the least obtrusive with front extensions more visible and therefore needing greater care and design flair. In many cases, a front extension will simply be considered inappropriate. ----------------------- -Would the conversion of a conservatory window into a bifold door be considered an external alteration? or alterations to the external visual appearance. Although it's situated at the rear of the house Here is their link on the charges, for Scheme of Management https://www.calthorpe.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Calthorpe-SoM-application-fees.pdf

I would suggest a simple zigbee controlled roller blackout blind. With zigbee you can connect it to your smart speaker and have it automatically roll up and down according to the time of day to reduce your glare. A good battery blind will operate two motions a day on a single set of battery’s per year. Let me know if you would like to know more.

Roof TerraceDo I need planning permission for a lean to 125 cm x 244 cm on a small roof terrace which is 3.5 x 4 metres. It is a grade 2 listed building in south kensigton london sw7 can i install a portable solar panel for latop and phone charging. I only own the terrace and I donot have flat in the building. More details on the roof at www.kensington.me.uk