Cart Lodges across Norfolk and Suffolk

A cart lodge is an open fronted timber framed outbuilding, traditional across Suffolk and Norfolk, used for covered parking and storage. It differs from a garage in being open fronted and timber framed rather than enclosed and masonry built, which makes it lighter in appearance and generally simpler to build.

It depends on the size, the height, the position on your plot and any restrictions on your property, and the decision rests with your local planning authority rather than with us. Confirm with your local planning department before committing to a design.

Single, double and larger multiple bay cart lodges are all normal. The number of bays is usually decided by how many vehicles you want covered, how much storage you want alongside them, and what the plot and any planning constraints will take.

Often yes. A boarded loft over the bays is a straightforward addition and is very useful for garden and seasonal storage. A usable room in the roof is a bigger step involving access, headroom and potentially planning and building regulations, so it is worth raising at the design stage rather than later.

Both are used. Green oak gives the traditional appearance and weathers to silver grey, and it is the more expensive option. Treated softwood, clad and finished, costs less and can be made to look appropriate against most properties. We will talk through the difference in cost and appearance honestly.

Yes. A cart lodge is open fronted by tradition but there is no reason a bay cannot have doors if you want one secure. A common arrangement is open bays for the cars and one enclosed bay for tools and machinery.

Yes. A timber frame is only as good as what it sits on. The base and groundworks are part of the build and are specified to suit the ground conditions on your plot, which vary considerably across the Brecks and the fen edge.

Plain clay or concrete tiles and slate are the usual choices, and the frame is designed for the weight of whatever you pick, so it is worth deciding early. In a conservation area or next to a listed building the covering may not be entirely your choice, which is a question for your local planning authority rather than for us.

Yes, and it is worth deciding before the frame goes up so the routes are built in rather than surface mounted afterwards. We build in the routes. The supply itself and the connection are carried out by a qualified electrician, the same as on any other job.

Call or send the enquiry form with the number of bays you are thinking of and roughly where on the plot it would go. We come and look at the site, because ground conditions and access make a real difference to the price. Quotes are free, with no obligation.