help me with en suite and clothes storage

[redshoes]

We have a 'room' alongside our bedroom which is long and narrow (originally the dressing room I think). It has a window at the front and a fireplace across the corner at the back. There is an original Victorian arch to it from our bedroom and an original door from the landing. It is currently split into 3; a tiny en suite at the front (door from our bedroom), a big walk-in wardrobe (door from our bedroom) and a utility cupboard at the back (door from landing). Now, I have spent 5 years trying to decide the best use of space (I kid you not) and still have no clue. It is a long way from the soil pipe so a loo would be difficult, but probably more possible if at the front of the house. Should I: a/put the en suite at the front, possibly with a loo, and the dressing room/wardrobe at the back or b/ have the en suite tucked neatly at the back (no loo) and open up the arch for more space in the bedroom and have wardrobes just along the wall???
AND (wake up at the back)
should i have a shower/bath in the en-suite or a walk-in shower?
Thanks for reading!

En-suite at front with natural light from window, dressing room at back definitely, get a loo in there somehow even if it is with a macerator. Walk-in shower (but I am biased, haven't had a bath in about four years).

thanks, it's great to get another perspective

Agree with lala, but I woudl also get an architect to come and have a look. You get an hour's free consulation and if you want to go ahead they can do drawings for the builder.
The other option is to find a very good bathroom fitter and ask their opinion.
IMO a loo is essential even if it's a saniflo, as is good storage, a bath is not.

i would defo try & get a loo in there & just go with a shower as you have a bath (I assume) in your main bathroom.

seems pretty unanimous that we need a loo and shower, so we'll go with having it at the front

Is a loo really essential? How far is the nearest one from your bedroom?
Anyway, agree with everyone else, keep the bathroom at the front for the light. Is there some way you can bring some natural light from the front to the dressing area? You could put a small window up near the ceiling, or use glass bricks in the dividing wall. Or how about closing the door from bedroom to ensuite and access the ensuite via a glass door from the dressing room.
Don't touch your archway. Sounds lovely btw

I think you definitely need a loo in an ensuite, otherwise it's not a proper ensuite IMO! If this is your forever house then it probably doesn't matter as much, but if you think you would be selling in the future I would make sure you have a loo.

Yes Sputnik, I was thinking of having glass at the top of the wall and accessing from the dressing room! Sounds like a proper plan when someone else suggests it . We did get a architect but she was useless and haven't got the energy to trawl through more in case they're useless too. Prefer the combined wisdom of mnetters!