Knocking down our house and building two.

[TheBeautifulVisit]

We live in a large house on a large plot in the sought-after commuter-belt. We could knock down our houses and build two houses. We could then either retain one for us or sell both and buy something else.

It is financially sensible to do this, very much so. But this is our home and we love our house and where we live. But the infilling is happening and it's changing the area. There are only about 24 houses on the street and there are currently three other large detached houses considering knocking down and rebuilding.

Should we do it? Or is it a slightly disgraceful thing to do?

Oh and I should have said, two big houses have been knocked down and 4 now stand in their place. They are nice too. Not fugly. Just less green in-between.

I'd love to see your street! What sort of houses?

I would if it meant family security. It does sound like you are happy to live in it as it is though

I'm worried that the growing number of houses will eventually reduce the value of the houses on the street and so there is an advantage to being among the first to knock down and double the units.

Although I'm not without awareness that we would do that possibly at the expense of our neighbours who won't knock down and rebuild two, or can't (there are a few Listed Buildings and they can't do this obviously).

It really boils down to are we, or are we not, profiteering arseholes? And I am beginning to think we are.

I think building two less expensive homes means that two families will be better able to afford to live in the commuter belt so not a bad thing to do.

just to add -if you are considering living in one and you like the area then I don't see the problem as long as they were done to a good standard.

we have lived in a few places where the road was a mixture of old/new
2/3/4/5beds and houses/bungalows/flats. I prefer the mix tbh.

might be a future trend anyway- as more housing is required, without building on the countryside.

Several things to consider, will planning allow you to do this? Where will you live whilst the house is being demolished, site cleared and then re-built? And how will you finance it? Because you aren't selling so you aren't releasing the capital.

Do you know a good builder? Architect? Have you crunched the numbers?

If you can get permission and get a good architect then I'd probably be in favour. Happening here all the time (not my street I hasten to add, no spare capacity here!). What gets me annoyed is when developers squeeze in three or four, our even a whole block of flats, and pave or concrete 90%of the original area.