This is a difficult one. Many people see garages as a selling factor, but many are not wide or long enough for modern cars. Also, modern cars are now built to withstand all of the elements, and with anti-corrosive paint etc they can more than happily survive outside. If you do not use the garage as a place to 'store' the car then it will inevitably become a place to store everything else. From a garden design point of view think about the direction of the sun. If the garage gets most of the sun during the day then perhaps it would be better to remove it. If the area gets sun later in the evening then again, perhaps take it down. By the sounds of it you have plenty of options for parking elsewhere so in my opinion I would take it down. If the base of the garage is in good condition, you could re-purpose the area for a summerhouse or garden office or patio. With regards to the concrete and gravel garden make sure there is enough drainage and that any excess water runs away from the house, otherwise you could end up with rising damp issues. I fully understand why some people prefer a 'maintenance-free' garden with the use of concrete and gravel, but I would always favour soft planting. Yes, it would cost to remove the garage and the concrete but if you and your family get more pleasure from a family garden, then surely this is money well-spent. You should also remember that outside space in the form of a garden is a big selling point - perhaps more than an awkward garage. If you live in a family catchment area, then future buyers will be looking for a family garden. You can still include a patio and storage sheds to replace the garage, but these can be more easily disguised in to a well-designed garden. So, as I say this is a difficult question, but in my opinion I would remove the garage and create a wonderful garden that you can enjoy.

Large gardens are all well and good if have the energy & ability and you can afford the time (or money) for maintenance, but it's not always ideal. The size of garden should be appropriate to the size of house and appropriate for the lifestyle of the owners.

I need to resurrect this thread! So 2 years on we've completed all of the downstairs internal work, and knocked down the garage. We spread some grass seed, and there is now a garden space where once sat the garage. We did have a builder booked in for rebuilding the garage to the side of the house, and planned to add some decking where the patio doors are along the back of the house!/wall maybe, but now the builder has cancelled and is returning our cash, we're therefore reallocating funds to a much needed upstairs bathroom instead. I wonder if there are any budget friendly suggestions and ideas to make an area that will hold gardening tools/provide cover for my partner to do his hobbies by the side of the house? It's a wall then huge hedge beyond that which is directly parallel with a footpath and road on the other side. I thought about a shed but would the hedge not be impossible to cut and would it rot quicker, plus would the roots die off? We need to keep the hedge or have some privacy from the road, but equally need a place to store and use the space at the side. Thoughts?

Picture not uploaded..here it is..