Side access or space..

5 years ago

I am currently looking at extending my 1930s semi-detached and until a day ago was all about maximising internal space, particularly as live in London where won't use outside space that regularly.

I have had last minute fear just as ready to apply for planning that should try to maintain property as a semi (only one joint wall and therefore side access to front).

The garden will be significantly reduced with extension, so it's just one of those mini landscaped postage stamp (large park nearby if need space) with no significant trees beyond when can be dealt with through the house.

Like idea of increases security by not having side access but am I missing a trick by not having it for later/resale?

The difference we are talking is the space allowed to push out a dining chair and pass or a wheelie bin size (I.e. 80 to 90cm)...

What are people's views?

Extend and maximise internal living space

Maintain side access

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Comments (5)

minipie
5 years ago
Personally I don't think side access is that important in London for most people, and internal space is at a premium. However it depends partly on how useful the space would be if you add it onto the house. What would that strip of space be used for in your new plans - can you add it onto a room properly? Does it become a downstairs loo or utility space?

Can you draw a rough plan?
Jen Star
Original Author
5 years ago
Here is a mock up Minipie, although not exactly to scale. I would probably lose 4.5sqm of internal space if step in to allow side access which essentially would make the utility smaller and impact area designated for dining space. Am contemplating a long window in utility (there is height difference between properties of roughly 60cm as I am lower on hill, so can't have a conventional door) but could be a work around if build straight per orange line. Decisions, decisions!
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Hello James, Just a thought here and a very quick one!... If you have a galley arrangement you don't cut the room in half. You could then have a different kind of island/eating area. I love the island that morphs into dining if there is not a degree of separation to have two separate entities.. . The room spatially will feel more open, but of course it must be something you're happy with. For the seating area consider a chaise longue as if two don't sit, one can recline and gaze into the garden! If you were to make the side return ie follow along from the external wall (Living room) you could move the kitchen back in line with this. It's not a massive extension possibly 70 or 80 wide ie the doorway width approx.. It allows the access way to be left alone and thus you can still walk down past your kitchen.. There's no courtyard but you have a better flow through from front to back.. It's simpler perhaps but sometimes this is the best solution to a problem.. The living room could possibly have the angled wall removed to open up the living and kitchen area.. RSJ or some structural addition if the wall is load bearing and you'd need consent most probably.. Structural engineers, but the architect can advise you.. if you liked the idea.. It means you lose the door to the alleyway from the living room but I don't feel this is a gr8 loss.... You could move (or rather extend backwards to the new rear wall) the loo to my suggested new "rear" wall position boxed in from either side of course and with pocket doors and a small (read tiny) cloakroom in front accessed from hall side... so the door isn't opening directly into hall/kitchen/living but has two doors. So the end of the living room is squared off and forms one side of the new loo position. It's a minimal move. You increase the flow through from the living room by opening this out more and even a smaller amount would benefit. and then you can start the run (Kitchen) from back of downstairs loo with larder cupboard for example so there is again a degree of separation from downstairs loo and what is going to be kitchen units.. I also like to plan large monoliths like double height fridge freezers or larders in corners, which doesn't impede the view! Sliding or concertina doors at the back or my specific favourite .... Bring the outdoors in and visa vera! It's rather a more simplified design but I think it creates flow which I like the idea of in a home such as yours. You could put in wooden french doors if you wanted to separate front living from rear living but still keep them with the aesthetic feel of one room.. Don't lose the fireplaces if they're lovely they might be worth keeping! The other alternative is to square off the loo, do the small side extension as mentioned above and then you have two walk ways into kitchen from hall side and from kitchen side.. Then you'd have the FF or larder in the middle on the Loo wall .. This arrangement isn't open like my first idea.. but it would save you moving the loo in question.. : )) These are on a huge scale I know but they're to give you some inspiration about how to handle the door from kitchen to garden! Think garage style pulley system.. This kind of solution makes for a spectacular entrance to your garden and beyond!
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You'd have to find out from the council planning department where your 'build line' is. The bringing forward of the garage nearer to the road may well be prohibited, and you would need to check this, it all depends on how close it is the to road i'm afraid. If you can build on the front, and I'm guessing the planners may not be all that enthusiastic about it, then great, you could separate it from the house. Don't forget that you'd also have the building work to the front of the house with the 'hole' in it to add to the budget and you'd have to match the bricks or it will look funny. So before considering what you'd like to do, find out what you can do from the local council. Can you not just put a door in the side near the front door and move your home office along towards the front? Then you have another door to access the garden. You could have wide doors i'm sure, even if you had them made it would be cheaper than the building work.
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titiankim
5 years ago
We extended at the side of our 30s semi to the boundary. It allowed us to have a store (like a garage but too small for a car), a downstairs shower room and a utility. We're happy to take the wheelie bin through the utility and store and the space was worth it for us (we didn't lose garden by extending at the back)
minipie
5 years ago
Sorry just saw this! Having seen your plan I'd definitely incorporate the side passage as that way you get a square floorplan which is so much easier to furnish (and more attractive to future buyers) than an angled room. If you can incorporate a side door somehow then you retain some of the benefits of side access as titiankim describes.
PRO
OnePlan
5 years ago
I think, as long as you design in a place for the bins ( and allow for an extra bin incase the council change the system ) in the front of the house - that isn’t an eyesore ! Then go for full width extension to the side .

Side access or space..

Comments (5)

minipie

Jen Star
Original Author

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titiankim

minipie

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Side access or space..

Comments (5)

minipie

Jen StarOriginal Author

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titiankim

minipie

OnePlan

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Jen Star
Original Author