Tiny garage plus parking space or double garage?

Ramouth

We currently have a gravelled area at the rear of our garden theoretically large enough for two cars.  We need storage space for bikes, surfboards and paddle boards and it would be very useful to have some workshop space.  

We can just about fit a minimum sized single garage and still leave room to park outside but it is tight and would be a much trickier manoeuvre than the current arrangement.  There is a mature hedgerow with trees on the other side of the lane that the parking area is off of and this option maintains our view of these which makes the small garden seem slightly larger.

Alternatively we could build over the whole parking area with a double garage with full width roller shutter door.  This would mean easier parking but would cost more and have a greater visual impact. My main concern is that the garden might feel hemmed in even though it would just be by our own garage.  On the other hand the garden would be more private which would be nice.

I’m interested to know what others opinions are.  Do the benefits of a double garage outweigh the aesthetic considerations?  Is it likely to add more value to the property?

hazyjo

Add a large shed. Really can't see how a garage in a small garden would add value. Many would be knocking them down.

What sort of workshop space would be needed? Something for a hobby? Is there somewhere nearby that can be rented?

Ramouth

Thanks for replying.  My reasoning for the small garage was that we would retain two parking spaces. Not that we would ever put a car in there (we share a car).  Ideally the space would be large enough to do things like work on / repaint my small sailing dingy without having to re home the bikes in the interim.  

The space is ready separated from the garden by trellis, a gate and a level change so it isn’t a case of loosing garden space, just the visual impact and perceived garden length.

Ramouth

1st picture looking towards parking area from garden, 2nd of parking area itself.  Both sheds are rather tired and leaking so need to go.  If double garage option taken we would probably replace the lower one with a pergola and sitting area.

Brie

So you're suggesting a garage rather than a shed so you can say there's room to park 2 cars if/when you want to sell.  Is that likely to be any time in the next decade?  If not I wouldn't bother.  

We have a fictional garage.  In that it's a garage, with double doors, that a car might manage to get in to.  My VW up potentially could squeeze in but whether I'd be able to get in/out of it is doubtful.  So instead it's a storage area, junk and more books than some small public libraries.  And a beer fridge.  That is much more useful to us so I'd be looking for something like that instead of a garage.

And check planning permission.  That might focus what is easy to do and what might be impossible.

Ramouth

Thanks for your input.  It is really helpful to get other views.

We don’t plan to move anytime soon but would need to move if either of us couldn’t manage stairs anymore (we are only in our early 40s but I have had brain surgery and am aware that anything can happen).

The single garage option would definitely be used more for storage / projects than parking.  It’s another thing that bothers me about the double garage option - having to see the junk every time we use the car!

Planning will be required in either case as we are in a conservation area.

koalakoala

Double garage for me every time.
I never buy a house without.

HampshireH

OP

Do you mean a double garage across the entire top of that area. So blocking your access and leaving a bit of gravel in front of it or one to the side where the shed is now facing inwards? 

Personally if you do not need a garage I would build a bigger shed/garden Room where your shed currently is but the full length of that area from the fence to the road.

Your photos suggest this would still leave space for 2 cars.

Means you have a good looking storage space for all your stuff but no garage too small for a car. You can get some really nice ones that look "in keeping" double doors can then be placed wherever works for you.

Insulated properly and you have a multi purpose room ready for anything in the future

trix-a-belle

I agree with HampshireH. it wouldn't block your view being to one side of the parking area & having it the full depth would provide plenty of space for your paddle boards etc.

For storage do think creatively and use vertical space such as bikes up the wall & potentially you could have a suspended rack for the paddle boards & draw them up the ceiling out of the way when not in use, this would ensure you have usable floor space rather than it being a dumping ground/throw it in shut the door type space. If it had a bit of an added overhang on the long side (which would make sense to have the access doors on so it is more of a studio type look than shed) that might also offer suitable shelter for painting your dingy.

Ramouth

Thank you tricky-a-belle and HampshireH.  I think you (and hazyjo earlier) might be right and we should give up on having having a structure large enough to park a car in. 

So the choice then would be between something a bit narrower that will allow us to continue to easily park our car, and a double garage which would take up every bit of space.  

The double garage might add value to the property and would give us plenty of space potentially allowing us to replace the lower shed with garden.  But it will be significantly more expensive and more difficult to get planning for.

Definitely leaning towards the smaller option.  The overhang is a good idea and could be extended further with an awning for a big job.  It could be a real pain having to go through the garage every time we go out (we don’t use the front door much).  

Thank you all for the input - it is really helping us think things through.