I'd suggest trying to clean brickwork and repoint as then it is maintenance free for the next 50+ years. If painting you may have to repaint every 5 years or so. What brick cleaning products are you using? Don't advise on sandblasting as it's a destructive method, it strips off the top 2-3mm [if you're lucky] of the brick. Have you looked into acid washes and / or soy gel paint stripper, Franmar Chemicals etc.? When your extension is finished will it be easy to get on top to repaint the brickwork? Access, health and safety issues to consider. If you really want to use paint then a mineral masonry paint will probably be the best solution, Kiem paints etc. Hope you get it sorted.

Pebbledash is a design crime!!! I'd see how damaged the bricks are by doing a patch. You do need to be careful though with the planners. Unbelievably our coastal village is currently locked in battle with the local planning department as more people want to remove the pebbledash for fibre cement ship lap cladding and the planners in their wisdom are against it, but they will now let us render in any colour.

thank you tez, I like the porch idea, the entrance would be to the side of the house and if I could afford and permitable I would do a side extension but it's an overkill as the space is enough currently, maybe a small porch style roof over the entry way, I have saved examples of these. I've never thought of using a gate, wouldnt it be a hassle to open and close the gate when parking? but it's a good security feature specially around kids. we need to consider postman too. the side space is being considered for parking as the house entrance is there. and having hedging or planting at the front

i also am passionate for BMW, and i own X3 M sport,,, and a big fan of cars (Bentley GT continental) i also have built extensions, hahaha, but i don t take on building extensions, i wait till the extension finished, then complete interior finishing,that is what i am talented in so its best to stick to what i know