Domestic Garden Buildings and Structures Market Report – UK 2024-2028
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The 8th edition of the Domestic Garden Building and structures market provides a thorough review of the UK Domestic Garden Buildings & Structures market, including market size, influences & trends, market prospects & forecasts, key suppliers & sales, and distribution channels. This sector encompasses a wide array of categories, all of which have seen advantages from the trend of remote work and consumer dedication to enhancing domestic outdoor spaces for recreational and leisurely activities.
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Providing an extensive industry analysis and 2028 market forecast for manufacturers, investors, and stakeholders within the construction and outdoor living sectors, this report offers indispensable insights into market dynamics, consumer preferences, product innovation and future growth prospects.
Following the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic, the market has showcased a resilient recovery post-2020, witnessing a notable surge in value, indicative of a more than 20% increase. This resurgence is underpinned by evolving consumer preferences, coupled with a heightened emphasis on outdoor living spaces amidst changing lifestyles and work-from-home trends. Moreover, the market continues to respond to stringent building regulations, particularly those pertaining to environmental sustainability and structural safety.
Key insights highlight the market’s reliance on housing and outdoor construction activities, with particular significance placed on the burgeoning demand for multifunctional garden structures. Innovations in product design, emphasizing versatility, durability, and eco-friendliness, are driving market evolution, with a growing focus on integrating smart technologies for enhanced functionality and convenience.
The report segments the market into various categories, including garden sheds & storage, log cabins & summerhouses, garden rooms, greenhouses, and garden structures, each poised for substantial growth.
While challenges such as economic uncertainties and supply chain disruptions may arise, the report underscores the importance of continuous innovation and strategic adaptation for companies across the industry. By seizing emerging market opportunities and addressing evolving consumer needs, stakeholders can navigate towards sustained growth and success in the garden building structures market.
Market Summary
The UK Domestic Garden Buildings & Structures market has seen significant fluctuations since 2019. A recovery occurred in 2021 with an 11% increase, fueled by demand from new work-from-home norms and interest in outdoor living. However, economic pressures from Brexit, the Ukraine war, and other factors led to a slight decrease in 2023, and the first quarter 2024.
Sub-sectors within the market have varied in performance:
Garden Sheds & Storage remains the largest segment, driven by versatile usage and innovations in materials and design.
Log Cabins & Summerhouses constitute 22% of the market, evolving with better insulation features to support year-round use, though still facing supply challenges.Garden Rooms have seen significant growth due to the shift towards home offices and leisure spaces, becoming a high-value segment with premium features.
Greenhouse demand sustained by the grow-your-own produce trend, especially during the pandemic.
Garden Structures like gazebos and pergolas represent a smaller niche at 3% but benefit from the trend towards outdoor living and entertainment.
Overall, while the garden buildings market faces short-term pressures from economic conditions, its long-term prospects are favourable, supported by trends in home improvement and a potential resurgence in the housing market. Most garden buildings also benefit from not requiring planning permission, enhancing their appeal to consumers looking for straightforward home enhancements.
Market Forecasts and Product Innovations
Overall market forecasts and innovations are aligned with consumer demand for sustainable, customized, and advanced technology in outdoor living solutions driving growth and differentiation within the market.
Design Aesthetics – Greater emphasis on design, architectural styles and premium finishes will drive innovations which cater to consumer preferences.
This includes ergonomic layouts with added touches, such as more in-built storage to maximise space and to create a minimalist feel; also flexible, hybrid formats which can be re-configured over the years, for multiple purposes.
Convenience – with DIY skills depleting amongst younger age groups, coupled with an ageing population, ease of maintenance will become even more important. Materials which facilitate this are therefore considered essential, including colour fastness, weatherproof and anti-rot properties. This includes use of composite materials, treated timbers, with scope to technically innovate with resin-based materials.
Climate Change – Fit for purpose materials to withstand extreme temperature changes. At the same time, environmental factors will take centre stage, for example efficient management of water and energy, including greywater recycling systems for irrigation and use in garden annexes. Garden buildings & structures will also be designed to support the eco-system, and there may be a shift from hard landscaping to the creation of more green spaces with vegetation/’green’ walls & roofing in gardens, to support local biodiversity. It remains to be seen if this will be driven by legislation.
Rental options – may become more commonplace for garden buildings, to cater for the high proportion of young people not yet able, or willing, to purchase a home. Similarly, more products may be marketed as ‘portable’, so that they can be taken to the next home or re-sold, increasing affordability, and providing new opportunities for suppliers. Finance options are already offered for garden rooms and other buildings.
Key Issues Covered in the Report
The report on the UK Domestic Garden Buildings & Structures market comprehensively covers a range of key issues that are critical for understanding the current state and prospects of the industry. These issues include:
Market Sizing and Trends: Analysis of the market size, with historical data and projections,
International Trade Data: impact of imports and exports on the UK supply chain.
Market Mix by Product: by product type, including garden sheds, log cabins, summerhouses, garden rooms, and greenhouses.
Influences and Drivers: Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, Environmental market dynamics.
End-Use Sectors: UK construction data, housing activity and domestic buyer preferences.
Product Category: Detailed analysis of the sub-sectors within the garden buildings and structures market, highlighting specific trends and developments.
Distribution Channels: Overview of the various distribution channels through which garden buildings and structures reach consumers, including direct sales, retailers, and online platforms.
The Future for Garden Building Structures: Projections about the future of the market, focusing on potential growth areas and challenges that could impact the market.
Innovation: Insight into technological advancements and innovative practices in the design, materials, and functionality of garden buildings and structures.
The UK domestic garden buildings and structures market is shaped by a complex interplay of factors categorized under the PESTLE framework.
Political
Brexit and International Trade Agreements: Changes in trade policies post-Brexit affect tariffs and the ease of importing materials, impacting costs and supply chains.
Geopolitical Tensions: Conflicts such as the Russia/Ukraine war and issues in the Middle East disrupt supply chains and increase costs for materials.
Elections and Policy Uncertainty: Potential shifts in government policy leading up to elections can create market uncertainty, affecting investment and consumer confidence.
Economic
Consumer Spending Power: Economic downturns or slowdowns reduce disposable incomes, impacting on consumer spending on non-essential goods.
Cost Pressures: Rising costs in imports, production, transportation, and wages squeeze supplier margins.
Debt Levels: High levels of national and personal debt can constrain spending in housing-related areas, including garden structures.
Social
Outdoor Living and Wellbeing Trends: Increasing interest in spending more time outdoors and at home drives demand for garden buildings as spaces for relaxation and socializing.
Home Working Trends: The rise in remote working necessitates additional living space, boosting interest in garden offices and studios.
Housing and Demographic Shifts: Changes in home ownership patterns and smaller garden sizes can affect the types and sizes of garden structures that are feasible or popular.
Technological
Product Innovation and Modular Construction: Advances in design and construction technology improve the appeal of garden buildings by reducing installation time and enhancing durability.
Smart Technology Integration: Incorporation of smart technologies into garden structures makes them more functional and appealing.
Legal
Planning Permissions and Regulations: Legal requirements for planning permissions can slow down installations, particularly for larger or more complex structures.
Post-Brexit Certification: New standards and certifications required after Brexit may affect product compliance and market access.
Environmental
Eco-Friendliness and Sustainability: Growing consumer preference for sustainable and environmentally friendly materials influences product choices and designs.
Biodiversity and Green Regulations: Legislation like the Environment Act, which promotes biodiversity and the use of green spaces in construction, shapes market offerings.
These factors collectively drive market dynamics, influencing both demand and supply sides of the garden buildings and structures market in the UK.
Areas of Particular Interest
Eco-friendly solutions – increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly structures, recycled materials, incorporating green building practices to minimize environmental impact.
Smart Technology integration – catering to the convenience and connectivity of the consumer, remote controlled, heating, lighting, and security.
Versatile living spaces– multi-purpose structures including home offices, gyms, guest accommodation and relaxation areas, reflecting the need for flexible living and changing lifestyles.
Modular and prefabricated solutions – offer advantages of faster installation, cost-effectiveness, flexible design, and configuration appealing to both consumers and manufacturers.
Sustainable landscaping – holistic outdoor living solutions incorporating sustainable garden design.
Customization – tailored to individual preferences and specific requirements, size, design layout, materials, and additional features.
End Use Sectors
The Domestic Garden Buildings & Structures Market is primarily influenced by the performance of the UK housing sector. This includes both new housebuilding and Repair, Maintenance & Improvement, the latter also influenced by home moving activity.
Charts Included in the Report:
The report contains the following tables and charts which illustrate trends in new housing and RMI activity in Great Britain from 2019 to 2023.
Chart 4: GB Housing Output (Seasonally Adjusted £bn, Volume Trends)
Chart 5: UK Permanent Dwellings Completed by Sector, By Financial Year
Chart 6: Housebuilding Completions 2012 – 2022 % Mix by Type of Dwelling.
Number of UK Residential Property Transactions 2018-19 to 2022-23
Product Subsectors
The provided charts and tables offer a comprehensive analysis of the UK domestic market for garden building structures from 2019 to 2024. They encompass a variety of sub-sectors within the garden buildings category, focusing on market value, material mix, and product diversity.
Garden Sheds and Storage: Charts 7 and 8 detail the market size and material composition, providing insights into trends and preferences in garden sheds and storage solutions.
Log Cabins and Summerhouses: Charts 9 and 10 analyse the financial scale of the log cabins and summerhouses market, along with a breakdown of product types expected to dominate by 2024.
Garden Rooms: Chart 11 focuses on the segment of garden rooms, illustrating market growth over the forecast period. Chart 12 dives into the variety of garden buildings designed for year-round use, exploring their market share by value.
Greenhouses: Charts 13 and 14 provide a view of the greenhouse market’s evolution in terms of value and the associated sales mix, highlighting key trends and potential growth areas within this sector.
Distribution
The Distribution sectors within the domestic garden buildings and structures market are quite diverse, reflecting the varied ways in which these products reach consumers.
Direct Sales (Online Direct-to-Consumer): Manufacturers leverage e-commerce platforms to sell directly to consumers. This channel has seen growth due to the convenience of online shopping and the ability to offer a wide range of products, from entry-level to luxury items.
Importers and Distributors: This group plays a critical role by importing and distributing various garden structures to retailers or directly to consumers. They bridge the gap between foreign manufacturers and the local market, often handling logistics and local compliance.
Retailers and Merchants: Garden Centres and Home Improvement Outlets: These are traditional and still dominant channels. They benefit from high consumer traffic and the ability to display a variety of garden structures.
Specialty Stores and Showrooms: For more expensive and complex products like modular garden rooms or timber-framed buildings, showrooms are crucial. They allow customers to view products firsthand and discuss technical aspects with experts.
Mail Order and Catalogue: Despite the rise of digital channels, mail order and catalogue sales remain strong, particularly among audiences that prefer browsing physical catalogues or have limited internet access.
Flat-Packed Sales: Many garden buildings are sold as flat-packed kits, which are easier and cheaper to ship and store. Customers can opt for DIY assembly or hire professionals for installation, providing flexibility in terms of cost and convenience.
Each distribution sector caters to different customer needs and preferences, allowing the market to cover a broad spectrum of demographics and price points. This multifaceted distribution approach helps maximize reach and accessibility of garden building products across the UK.
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- Detailed assessment of the market – analysis of the market structure and recent developments within the market.
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- Analysis by product group – market size, product mix, sector trends etc.
