To put a greenhouse on the drive

[MaryIsA]

Garden is fairly small. I could tuck the greenhouse behind the garage....or have a lovely big greenhouse in front of it. Which gets sun all day with shade at the height of the day.

The garage isn’t big enough for a car to fit in, but is double length and full of junk.

I really want to knock it down for more garden but is this a reasonable compromise?

What's the front of your house like? I think it will look weird at the very least.

Big semi with a 3 car drive....in a line not next to each other. Large garden at front. But nowhere for a greenhouse in front garden, also it loses the sun at midday completely.

Whereas the drive is one of the sunniest spots.

It would just be taking up the final car space...

If it is all your land, doesn't block access for anyone else and isn't restricted by covenants - then it's down to you to use your property in a way that works for you.

Would there be any issues with others impacting on it as it would presumably be next to the road and you might get vandalism?

Can you turn some of your garden space into a drive to replace the lost drive space?

Are there any restrictions on the car spaces? My deeds say I can't decrease the number. Not sure if a greenhouse would count as a permanent reduction.
Would it leave you with more cars than spaces?

I think it would look a bit weird, potentially an eyesore from your neighbours point of view.

Usually only one car on drive due to having to shuffle cars round if the fitter car up needs to leave first. There’s plenty of on road parking.

I’m thinking of putting a fence up in front of the greenhouse to divide it off from the drive. Them the dog can potter about safely too.

We are unlikely to move for about 10 years and that rounds reversible to me.

Im not sure your neighbours would be very impressed. I love my greenhouse but they look messy.

One of our neighbours has a small greenhouse (probably only a 4ft by 2ft one) on their drive at the side of their house. One side of the greenhouse is next to a hedge which separates their garden from next doors. There’s almost always a car parked in front of it & it’s barely noticeable. Go for it.

Don't see an issue with it myself, op, seems like a good plan, especially if its fenced off. Give some thought to security though, which would be my biggest concern, especially given the prevalence of plant thefts over the last year. Also, make sure you keep it looking tidy and even picturesque from the outside.

I've seen plenty of properties with large front gardens or wrap around gardens where there's a greenhouse or shed at the front of the house.

Out of interest, what's stopping you from knocking down your garage and using the space as a front garden? If you have the funds then I'd go for it.

You need to look at whether it's allowed, I think it depends how close to the road it is. An old neighbour did this and a month later it was gone. She was very upset that a neighbour had complained and she was told it had to be removed.

Can you change the garage into a sort of all-purpose shed/outbuilding and attach the greenhouse to the front as a sort of extension? It might look more logical that way.

What? No diagram?

Need diagram!

Worth double-checking whether it would need planning permission. Sheds usually do if they're in front of the house.

A very sunny greenhouse will be too hot for your plants so you will need shade.

I'd say ask your neighbours. There are rules about where you can put a building in your garden without planning permission - I won't link any as it depends which country you are in but you can Google it. Usually it would cover things like if it is close to a neighbour's boundary then it has to be less than a certain height, and if it's in front of the "principle elevation" then would maybe need planning permission. I'd look up the rules for your area, come up with a proposal, then present to your neighbours (if you want to avoid any arguments for the next 10 years as you want to stay long term). Good luck!

If the greenhouse did not extend beyond the line of the front of the house and it was behind a fence, it may be OK - but really need a diagram (of course).

Diagram.

I am a messy gardener....this has to be taken into account.

Check with planning eg you can’t have structures within x distance of a boundary. Also may be restrictive covenants check your deeds.

Excellent diagram.

A couple of houses round here have a greenhouse or vegetable patch at the front or side. I quite like it.

Looks fine to me.

You will probably be fine with that as it is far enough back from the front of the property.
And an excellent diagram!!

Yeah, you should be ok with that

Now that's a proper diagram, the cat on the path is the sort of detail I crave. The greenhouse would actually tuck in quite nicely there especially if it's behind a sturdy fence.