Front Door in Living Room

movilogo

You can build an entrance porch. Up to 3 sq m does not require planning permission. 

MikeJXE

If you don't like it now you will like it less when you move in 

elsien

My living room is like that, Victorian terrace. There is a front porch so I have a doormat both sides and take my shoes off in the porch if they’re particularly muddy. I have a runner for the walk through because even though I take my shoes off when I come in, I have a dog, and I also don’t ask guests to take shoes off so it does get a bit more dirty. 

I don’t have my TV on the wall, I have it angled in the corner by the window because it’s not a huge one. I have a three seater settee along the wall opposite the window,  with the door through into the next room next to it and I have a couple of chairs angled with the backs to where the TV is on your plan. So the walk-through from the door to the other room just feel slightly more corridor like rather than part of the room. 

I find it workable because of the porch. Without the porch I’d be less keen. I also have a small porch on the back door which I use for hanging coats in.

lika_86

movilogo said:

You can build an entrance porch. Up to 3 sq m does not require planning permission. 

This sounds like the best solution. Although if it's a newbuild you'd have to check if there are any covenants against this. If there are then you may need to consider alternatives either in the short term or longer term which may be using the back door yourself and maybe putting a curtain in to create a space around the front door (like in restaurants) so that when you answer the door to deliveries etc you aren't letting all the cold air in.

The issues you will have aside from just access to the kitchen are - where do you leave coats, bags and shoes and also, how do you avoid letting in all the cold winter air when opening the door. A porch solves this by creating a sort of airlock and place to store your stuff. If you do plan on putting a porch on then you may want to talk to the builders now to ensure the flooring goes all the way to the front door.

user1977

movilogo said:

You can build an entrance porch. Up to 3 sq m does not require planning permission. 

But there will almost certainly be restrictions in the title.

DarrenNorthEast

ProDave said:

That's an odd floorplan, what it in that "void" to the right of the living room?  i.e. why is the house wider at the back than at the front?

That’s the garage.

hazyjo

I'd be more concerned about the cold/draughts. I have a porch with UPVC door, plus a big wooden inside door, and it's still very draughty and cold in the hall by the door!

If not allowed a porch (which is the obvious solution), you could maybe build a little inside vestibule, but it would mean losing a bit of an already small room. Still wouldn't solve your problem, but would mean you have somewhere for coats and it would help with retaining heat.

Do you have to buy new?

hazyjo

Just seen your photo. Blimey, expected a tiny 2 bed terrace. Why on earth didn't they build an entrance hall or at least a porch? Very strange for a house that size.

housebuyer143

DarrenNorthEast said:

ProDave said:

That's an odd floorplan, what it in that "void" to the right of the living room?  i.e. why is the house wider at the back than at the front?

That’s the garage.

Cant believe they would build a detached house with a garage and not put a porch on the front. Lazy planning.

movilogo

There is enough space for an entrance porch. Check your deeds to see if there is any restriction. 
Developers could easily build it but avoided to save money.