Can someone help with these plans please?

[Yepyupyip]

I have done first draft plans back.

I want to go with option B as it keeps a side access which I think is important . What does everyone else think ?

Also I think the plans aren’t detailed enough? AIBU? Like with option B what will the actual internal floor space be ? ( minus wall width)

We would ideally extend out etc but trying to keep costs down but create an open space

Keep the side access 👍

What will you use side access for?

Think about wheelie bins if you don't have side access. I once bought a terraced house where you had to take the bins through the house - trust me when I say this is not something you want to be involved in.

@GabriellaMontez Garden waste / wheelbarrow/ bikes/ lawnmower

Looking at the plans I'm not sure the extension will gain you enough space to make it worth the expense and inconvenience. I would be tempted to just take the wall between the kitchen and diner out first and see if that gives you the lifestyle you want in that space.

How much are you being quoted for option B?

I'm inclined to agree with the above. I wouldn't want to do away with side access, but will the cost be worth it for the space gained? If you're staying put for a long time, maybe it will be.

I’d go A (because that’s what we have). You won’t often miss side access, particularly if you have room for a bin store in the front garden/drive. Bikes we keep in the garage bit with our recycling boxes etc. Yes we occasionally have to bring garden waste through house but we have tiles/floor boards in hall/kitchen so easy to sweep up any debris.

Just means we maximised on space in kitchen for socialising/living etc. In an ideal world we’d have kept size access but we don’t miss it often and prefer the larger indoor space.

Agree with this. Or use the extra bit as a utility / WC.

I personally would want to keep the side access, but that's because we use ours so much for the garden.

I would second that. Perhaps grt a quote for that too, abd weigh up if the difference is worth it

Of the two, I would go option B.

Is there space in the back for a small shed for the mower? Would you consider a bike locker at the front?

I agree the side access is important... but that area would be significant in your living space.

Something like this
https://securecyclestore.com/product/secure-bicycle-protection-box-secured-by-design/

Option A is following the boundary line so not straight?
Would be something to consider then in terms of layout for kitchen etc

Side access is always worth having I think. We don’t even use our front door apart from deliveries, we use our side one so much!

These plans often wouldn’t show all measurements as they are drawn to scale

I'd never lose side access if I could help it. It makes a house much less marketable in the future if you can't get through to the garden without going through the house.

B, any room for a downstairs cloakroom?

@LIZS that struck me too. If they could find a way to add in a loo (and possibly the washer and dryer) that would make the downstairs even better.

I think I’d use the money to knock the wall down between the kitchen and dining room and make that space really open and styled. Then create an internal utility space in the top right corner of the garage for all the ugly/noisy stuff - laundry etc.
that will still give you access to the back garden from the garage for practical purposes but also give you usable practical space internally.
if I had to choose between A or B, I’d go for B and factor in an interesting, side extension with higher, sloped ceiling and velux windows.

thanks all. I am leaning towards option b too.

i will be putting a door in the hallway leading to the front part of the garage. I will then keep washing machine. And ‘ugly stuff here’.

In either option it seems like an awful lot of work and expense for not much gain?

Looking at the kitchen design aspect, I know it's traditional to put the sink at the window so women can look out while washing up, but it would be a lot more convenient if your sink was closer to your fridge and your cooker (which isn't marked on the plan AFAI can see), and it would also make the space a lot more versatile if that side was work surface so you have the option later down the line of putting in an island, peninsula, or big table if you want those things in the future without having to buy a whole new kitchen.

I'm not sure in terms of extensions which is better, they both seem to bring problems, as most other PPs have said.

I think you also need to think carefully about whether making your garage smaller will be a good idea when you come to sell. I've looked at a couple of houses recently where they seemed to have a garage from the front photos but on the floor plan it had been cut down to make space for a utility etc and it put me off buying because I couldn't get my Land Rover in there which defeats the point of having a garage. It makes it glorified storage or a ground floor attic and I could buy a shed for that!

Most people I know don't use their garage for their car, I only know of one. For a lot of people it is a glorified shed so using it for utility etc makes sense. It would put some people off, but probably not as many as you think.

Keep the side access. Given that the new kitchen wall doesn't line up with the living room wall anyway, why are you blocking the internal door to the garage?