How important is side access?

[Starseeking]

I'm currently buying a semi-detached house at the top of my budget.

It is the standard 1930's semi, so there are 2 double bedrooms and one single, plus a family bathroom upstairs. There is also a garage behind the house, plus a 70ft garden.

There's about 2.5-3m (measured with my eyes!) of space at the side of the house, in which I'd want to build both a double storey plus rear extension to create an extra bedroom and shower room upstairs, then granny annex, utility and kitchen/diner downstairs.

To maximise the house footprint, I'd need to go up to the boundary, but feel uncomfortable about losing the side access to the garden to do so. Am I being irrational, or is side access really important?

Got to be honest I would never buy a house without some side access, our current one has a double extension on that the previous owners built, they left enough space so that you can comfortably take your wheelie bin in and out but not much more, I can’t for instance get my double buggy through.

We wanted to do some extensive work in our garden but there’s no way they’d get diggers or machinery round there so that’s out of the question.

I really dislike houses where there is either no access or the only access is via a garage. I always think it must be really inconvenient.

If you have dogs or kids then only being able to go through the front would be a nightmare - and what about future building work, garden landscaping, bringing recycling and bins in and out. No - not for me!

That said, if none of these things bother you then it doesn’t matter what other people think. You definitely will be reducing your market for when you come to sell bc it will be a dealbreaker for many, but not all. So if it’s going to be a long term house and you’ll add value overall then you should go with what works for you.

A 2.5-3m external width extension will give you extremely narrow rooms internally.

Lol at some of these replies

How on earth do all of us in terraces manage?

We’ve taken trees, dogs, garden waste, builders rubble through the house and front door, no bother. Just have to have robust flooring.

Thanks all. A lot of the houses on the road have been extended up to the boundary in a similar way, but I've only previously lived in houses where side access wasn't an issue.

I probably will go ahead with extending as we really will need the space by then. I expect we'll be living in the house for a good 10-15 years, so it'll be worth it in the long run.

@Reallybadidea

A 2.5-3m external width extension will give you extremely narrow rooms internally.

I'm expecting to only be able to get a double bed across the width, and not much more. Wardrobes and chest of drawers can go at the other end of the room.

The rest of the rooms upstairs and downstairs will be shower rooms and utility, so width shouldn't really be an issue.

Would it be possible to have am integral walkway as part of the extension. That is, the ground floor would be 2 metres plus a 1 metre walkway and the first floor would be the full 3 metre width, going over the walkway.

You could design it so that although stuff has to be brought through the house, it's travelling through utilitarian areas like utility room, garage, kitchen, where you'd be likely to have robust flooring.

Or have a passageway then the extension and build over. So ground floor wouldn't be connected to extended bit. Could be used extension for the annexe maybe?

X post with PP!

We don't have side access and if we move it won't be something we'd want again.

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

Would it be possible to have am integral walkway as part of the extension. That is, the ground floor would be 2 metres plus a 1 metre walkway and the first floor would be the full 3 metre width, going over the walkway.

This sounds interesting, but I have no idea what the house would look like on the lower level! I'm conscious that my local authority does not like houses to have what appears to be a secondary door on the front of the house, if that would be the cover, so it may not get through planning.

@titchy

You could design it so that although stuff has to be brought through the house, it's travelling through utilitarian areas like utility room, garage, kitchen, where you'd be likely to have robust flooring.

Or have a passageway then the extension and build over. So ground floor wouldn't be connected to extended bit. Could be used extension for the annexe maybe?

I've got my initial appointment with an architect this week, so I will talk through the art of the possible regarding side access with them. I would never have thought to do this, given the width available is so narrow.

@minipie

Lol at some of these replies

How on earth do all of us in terraces manage?

We’ve taken trees, dogs, garden waste, builders rubble through the house and front door, no bother. Just have to have robust flooring.

I've lived in a terrace like that too, it was a PITA, hence I wouldn't buy another house without side access.

It is very very annoying to have to bring all the garden waste through the house. And window cleaners/gardeners etc have to be let in. So although I like the extra space, I sort of wish the previous owners had done something different.

Our side extension is set back a bit from the front of the house, so there is room for bikes/bins outside

@Reallybadidea

A 2.5-3m external width extension will give you extremely narrow rooms internally.

Yes, we have an extension built over our 2.5m (internal width) garage. The room above is less than 8ft wide. I certainly wouldn't call it a double room. It's a good sized single for my daughter, but a double bed would be incredibly cramped.

I'd definitely keep side access, op. It's invaluable.

I can't find a suitable picture... so try and image your existing house, a new window to the side, probably two casements wide, then a door (gate to the passage way) set back a foot or two as planners like that I believe.
Then above that, on the first floor, another window three casements wide.
It is important to reflect existing window sizes, levels and styles to maintain the harmony of the existing building. You don't want anything that 'jars' the eye... and planners don't like it either {if they are any good!)

We don't have it, but do have rear access via garage. Not sure if you have this or not?

OP just a word of warning. You're unlikely to get planning permission to do a double storey side extension to your boundary, certainly in your neighbour has already done it. You might find that the only houses did it some years ago (before rules were tightened) and most councils now require a gap of at least 1m from the boundary if you're going double storey, 75cm if it's a single storey.

FWIW lots of houses like this have some sort of store at the front, not as big as a garage but enough for bikes or whatever.

@Africa2go

OP just a word of warning. You're unlikely to get planning permission to do a double storey side extension to your boundary, certainly in your neighbour has already done it. You might find that the only houses did it some years ago (before rules were tightened) and most councils now require a gap of at least 1m from the boundary if you're going double storey, 75cm if it's a single storey.

FWIW lots of houses like this have some sort of store at the front, not as big as a garage but enough for bikes or whatever.

This is another worry of mine. My local authority issued new guidelines in 2017 about what is allowed, and what is not allowed. I've looked at the planning permission and architect drawings of a number of extensions in the area on the local authority website, however they seem very inconsistent with the application of their own rules, as they have approved many things which the guide said they wouldn't!

@Notavegan

We don't have it, but do have rear access via garage. Not sure if you have this or not?

No rear access, house is landlocked, so to speak.

Personally don't think I'd feel comfortable security wise buying a house with side access.

We are considering doing the same but would have a storage area on the ground floor of the side extension with a roller/garage door and a utility area at the rear so would give some access to the garden without going through the main house.

Would you be able to incorporate a garage door at the front of the house with a smaller than a garage area for bikes etc. Then you could have the internal door to a utility room etc to create the walkway?

@minipie

Lol at some of these replies

How on earth do all of us in terraces manage?

We’ve taken trees, dogs, garden waste, builders rubble through the house and front door, no bother. Just have to have robust flooring.

Terraces manage because they usually have access to the garden at the back.

I have been put off purchasing semi's without side access in the past. One house had even blocked up the back door, so the only route out the back was the dining room patio doors.
My current semi has no side access, but a garage access that I can use.
Lots of people in my local area have done what you are proposing.