Detached Garage conversion and connecting it to the house

mrsjanejane

Hi,

Just looking for some general information on a new house that I am purchasing.

The house is an end terrace with a detached single garage to the side. It's strange as the garage is not directly to the side, the front of the brick garage starts at the back of the house, so it takes up some of the garden. Anyway, I want to get an extension done for my kitchen which could go to the side of the house to widen it but the back of the extension would join with the beginning of the garage and I would also lose access to the back of the garden. I thought that another option would be to use the garage as the extension (change of use) by connecting the kitchen by building a small connecting extension to the garage, is this normally allowed and would I need planning permission as the extension will be about 2.5 meteres by 2.5 to connect it to the garage. It just makes the back of the kitchen 2.5 meter longer to then be able to walk in to the converted garage area.


Hope this all makes sense!

mrsjanejane

I have been told that I do not need planning permission as the extension is not longer than 3meters, is this part true?

Doozergirl

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/hhg/houseguide.html

There are new planning rules in force which mean that many extensions don't need permission but you're better off calling your local council and speaking to a planning officer. Ours has a drop-in clinic so you can turn up with some photos and ask them straight out if you will need permission.

The 3m rule applies to rear extensions I think, not side extensions. Side extensions can't be more than four metres high or wider than half the width of the original house (that means without any susequent extensions already built) and you can't cover more than half the land around your house with extensions. There may also be a question mark about linking the house to the garage and the subsequent conversion of that so it might not be that straightforward - it's important that you check properly.

edgex

More work, but would it make sense to re-build the garage further forward, & extend the kitchen into the rear of the new build?
Also gain some garden space.

mrsjanejane

I had thought about bringing the garage forward as most properties with garages naturally have it to the side. I thought that this would cost me more by knocking down the old one and rebuilding everything.

oliverp_2

Garages are never built with the same amount (which isn't much in the first place!!) of care that houses are so make sure you check up on the structure of the place. Damp proofing may be poor or non existent and they'll be absolutely no insulation. Consider the conversion costs over a total rebuild with the added benefits/options.

mrsjanejane

So in some way, you are saying that knocking it down and rebuilding may be better in terms of what you can rebuild. If I build the extension to the side I will lose the garage space for storage, so maybe I could look in to half a garage (if that makes sense) for storage as i do not need it for parking as I still have two car places on the front.