Get rid of toilet in new build

[putitdown356]

About to move in to a 3 bed new build, one bathroom and one en suite upstairs, with a loo downstairs.

I want to get rid of downstairs loo and put a washing machine and dryer in there.

I live on my own. If I don't do this washing machine will go in kitchen and dryer im not sure where it could go. Does this sound like a mistake? Or would you also do this?

Which is completely pointless when the sink, toilet and door handle aren’t actually accessible.

I’m in my 60’s and still manage to haul myself up the stairs and down a corridor to reach my loo - the downstairs loo was always a dumping ground, though since I’ve cleared it out and redecorated it is rather more pleasant to use. As others have said you can easily reinstate it if necessary.

Thise saying it is illegal, who is actually going to enforce this? When the house is eventually sold it will have to be put back, but until then I don’t really see the issue.

Yes we have another one just like that in Rochester.
Thousands of new flats. They have approval but now have told the planners as they are only going to make £800,000 they can’t do any of the mitigation measures for anything. Including flood prevention ( it’s on the Medway), wildlife, etc etc etc. absolutely nothing!

They probably think the local planning department have put sky cameras in the toilet cistern.

@PearsNotApples yes exactly what im thinking, that most guests will use upstairs anyway as if they are staying the night all their things will be there.

I just really like the idea of having a separate place for laundry.

The level of accessibility is one of 3. The minimum standard its category 1, but planning can specify a higher one.

Plannning would have no interest in the interior once approved.

The provision of a downstairs wc is a building regulations requirement. They will enforce it at the relevant category during the build and prior to sign-off, but they would have no interest after this.

The only possible issue is when you come to sell.

Unless you have a utility room it's not going to be possible.

Just put the washer dryer in the kitchen like most people and it'll be fine.
Use a clothes rail in your bathroom or spare bedroom for airing any clothes that need it.

Just put the washer dryer in the kitchen like most people and it'll be fine.

Do ‘most people’ have their washers and dryers in the kitchen? Not in my experience. I rather use up any space I could find to house the washer and the dryer. Ours are stacked one on top of the other to maximise space in the utility.

Yes it's the norm for people in the uk to have them in the kitchen. The utility room is sometimes that's been added to new builds more frequently in recent years but I'd never even seen a washing machine in a room other than the kitchen until I was well into adulthood.

But then what do you do about parking, access for people with disabilities and so on?

Do ‘most people’ have their washers and dryers in the kitchen?
Yes.

A utility room needs ventilation, a large sink and door to the garden to be useful. Otherwise all you’re doing is ferrying wet laundry through the house to dry outside / drying it indoors and the room becomes hot humid and ripe for mould. In my experience new builds that don’t have utilities CAN’T build them and you will end up with more problems if you try.

I know.
Parking requirements are a nightmare
For flats I’d go multi-storey….they can look ok
For terraces I’d design them each 4.8 m wide ( current terraces range from approx 4m wide). 4.8 m allows for two parking spaces
Or put the garage on the ground floor with two stories above for accommodation then tandem parking.
For three/ four storey flats I’d again consider communal under and possibly overground multi-storey parking.

Id also want the development to be on excellent bus and cycling routes. Not all can be near a train station these days

my first house that was built mid 70's had a utility as part of the design. It was a small semi.

Disabilities are varied and ppl need very different things depending on the nature of their disabilities. Some disabled may struggle with walking but be able to drive safely, they will probably find things easiest in suburban areas with plenty of parking and easy access to things like out of town shopping centers that offer mobility scooters. Other people may walk just fine but be unable to drive for medical reasons, and they are usually best off living centrally where there are good public transport routes. Flats with elevators can be ideal for those who struggle with stairs. On the other hand that is not the case for every disability.

All in all, I think we are best off allowing different areas and homes to be different and making sure we have an abundance of housing and offer disabled ppl help with moving if they want to move to somewhere more suitable, rather than trying to make every house and every location perfect for every disability, which is never going to be possible.

Going to say that.
we are a family of four and do have one but rarely use it.

I do think its sensible that new houses have to have some thought put in toward accessilibity - wider access/doorways and level access would be a good basic start.

Having space to put in a downstairs loo can be useful, but if you don't need one ... then you don't. As long as you can do it if you DO need to later on, thats fine.

Disabilities vary massively and trying to make every home future proofed for every disability is impossible and stupid, you'd end up making homes inaccessible for the people living in them here and now!

It’s nothing new though. Our house had one added in 1952. I doubt it was the first.

my first house that was built mid 70's had a utility as part of the design. It was a small semi.

I'm not saying those houses don't exist but it's far from the norm in the UK.

No I'm saying that you may find it easier not to have to go upstairs.

I'm 56 and absolutely fine during the day and can run up, but in the evening when I've been still for a while I do struggle with the stairs as I'm very stiff.

So very true...

Most new builds also have the electrics ready for a stairlift but they put a blank plate (not sure of correct terms for it?!) there.

Our house is a 1988 build and I'd love a downstairs loo. We only have one bathroom for a family of 4

But most importantly I'd love a downstairs loo for our guests. Who keep getting older. We now don't invite my lovely FIL around because he can't make it up the stairs and towards the end of his life my Dad couldn't visit either because he couldn't make it up the stairs.

I think there's a way I could build a porch on the front and have a loo there (neighbours have done this) but we were quoted £17,000 and I can't afford that.

@CocoDC I was thinking if I had a condenser dryer it should be ok? I live by myself so hopefully only doing a wash 3/4 times a week.

@Clearinguptheclutter how do you manage to dry bedding/towels for 4 people in winter and wet weather though?

Ive never had a dryer before so I know I could do it, but I just think it makes life so much easier. As well as not having to think about condensation building up inside.