Suitability of double garage locations in housing market
Discussion
I'm house shopping at the moment in the east midlands, Notts/Derby area. Houses already with double garages tend to be larger and obviously, more expensive than without, with the double garage itself not perfect. I don't want or need a big house, it's just me, and frankly i'd be happy living in a single bedroom house with a bathroom, next to a large 6x6 garage, with the space I need for my (currently) 3 cars, large trailer and workshop needs to maintain the race car + storage for multiple sets of wheels...
EDIT: to be clear, I am not looking to keep inside a trailer and multiple cars. A 6mx6m garage with a high enough roof for a lift is what I would be looking to build on any prospective plot.
So my thoughts were - why not get a house for £280-£330k that has the space/grounds needed for me to build my dream double garage that's high enough for a lift, even if the house is a bit rundown with 1 bathroom it's ok VS spending £370-£380k on a house that has space i don't need, and a compromised double garage which will never be ideal. I can make up the difference and build my perfect garage.
I'm aware of the main rules around outbuildings and would probably still need planning permission to build a garage that's high enough for a lift/A frame (race car).
My question is: browsing through listings, if I found a house that has the space at the back and at least in purely on looks alone could be suitable....are there some rules of thumb or some way to quickly guage just from a rightmove listing, the likelihood of getting planning permission. I know many factors are at play, but if I know the main ones, I can avoid a situation where I find a suitable prospect, move in, then get denied planning permission because....there's some critical drain running underneath that prevents a foundation for a garage etc....
Is there some way to get a quick assessment prior to completing on a deal and moving in so I know for sure i'd be ok?
EDIT: I need to clarify a few assumptions people are making due to the lack of detail above...
Trailer does not need to be in the garage.
I will own the property.
I do not need all things in a garage, the trailer and cars can be outside... A 6m x 6m space with a high enough roof for a lift is what I want to create.
EDIT: to be clear, I am not looking to keep inside a trailer and multiple cars. A 6mx6m garage with a high enough roof for a lift is what I would be looking to build on any prospective plot.
So my thoughts were - why not get a house for £280-£330k that has the space/grounds needed for me to build my dream double garage that's high enough for a lift, even if the house is a bit rundown with 1 bathroom it's ok VS spending £370-£380k on a house that has space i don't need, and a compromised double garage which will never be ideal. I can make up the difference and build my perfect garage.
I'm aware of the main rules around outbuildings and would probably still need planning permission to build a garage that's high enough for a lift/A frame (race car).
My question is: browsing through listings, if I found a house that has the space at the back and at least in purely on looks alone could be suitable....are there some rules of thumb or some way to quickly guage just from a rightmove listing, the likelihood of getting planning permission. I know many factors are at play, but if I know the main ones, I can avoid a situation where I find a suitable prospect, move in, then get denied planning permission because....there's some critical drain running underneath that prevents a foundation for a garage etc....
Is there some way to get a quick assessment prior to completing on a deal and moving in so I know for sure i'd be ok?
EDIT: I need to clarify a few assumptions people are making due to the lack of detail above...
Trailer does not need to be in the garage.
I will own the property.
I do not need all things in a garage, the trailer and cars can be outside... A 6m x 6m space with a high enough roof for a lift is what I want to create.
Edited by wioifoiee on Sunday 22 March 11:49
Edited by wioifoiee on Sunday 22 March 11:53
Edited by wioifoiee on Sunday 22 March 11:54
You don't need to own the property to apply for planning permission.
I had a double garage and built a triple garage in addition (on an estate) not an issue , if a reasonable request and no objections from neighbours .
It annoys me more when garages are not used or converted to living accommodation
.
Build it with a vaulted roof without A frames ... so you can get a 4 post lift .
I got planning for this triple , no problem
This was my problem in the double with A frames
I had a double garage and built a triple garage in addition (on an estate) not an issue , if a reasonable request and no objections from neighbours .
It annoys me more when garages are not used or converted to living accommodation
.Build it with a vaulted roof without A frames ... so you can get a 4 post lift .
I got planning for this triple , no problem
This was my problem in the double with A frames
Edited by The Three D Mucketeer on Sunday 22 March 11:02
wioifoiee said:
....next to a large 6x6 garage, with the space I need for my (currently) 3 cars, large trailer and workshop needs to maintain the race car + storage for multiple sets of wheels...
So my thoughts were - why not get a house for £280-£330k that has the space/grounds needed for me to build my dream double garage that's high enough for a lift, even if the house is a bit rundown with 1 bathroom it's ok VS spending £370-£380k on a house that has space i don't need, and a compromised double garage
To get a garage big enough for what you want, I think you are looking at needing a 100sq meter+ build. Unless you DIY a substantial amount of the project you are not going to deliver that kind of build with a budget of £100k. So my thoughts were - why not get a house for £280-£330k that has the space/grounds needed for me to build my dream double garage that's high enough for a lift, even if the house is a bit rundown with 1 bathroom it's ok VS spending £370-£380k on a house that has space i don't need, and a compromised double garage
Getting planning for something that big, I presume on the front/public highway facing aspect of a build wouldn't be easy to do either. If would be much easier to buy a larger run done residential property with a garage attached, and than totally renovated to turn a large part of the floor plan to the use you want.
I think there is someone on here who has done that. But it wouldn't be cheap.
ferret50 said:
Provided you have suitable access and are not thinking of using your front garden you should have few problems.
Bear in mind that planners do not like mature trees removing and a turning space to allow drive in/out will help.
Surely to build a garage big enough for a trailer, race car lift, you are going to have to build on the frontage of any property unless you run the drive way to the back? Bear in mind that planners do not like mature trees removing and a turning space to allow drive in/out will help.
Which ever way I you need to be looking a plot that's 1/3 acre+, there are plenty of options in the East Midlands with those kind of plots, usually with a bungalow on. But it wouldn't be a cheap project unless you DIY large parts of it.
Would another option be essentially an industrial unit? But I have no idea if are allowed to live in one as your main residence? It's alot of work/effort to dedicate to cars though.
gangzoom said:
ferret50 said:
Provided you have suitable access and are not thinking of using your front garden you should have few problems.
Bear in mind that planners do not like mature trees removing and a turning space to allow drive in/out will help.
Surely to build a garage big enough for a trailer, race car lift, you are going to have to build on the frontage of any property unless you run the drive way to the back? Bear in mind that planners do not like mature trees removing and a turning space to allow drive in/out will help.
Which ever way I you need to be looking a plot that's 1/3 acre+, there are plenty of options in the East Midlands with those kind of plots, usually with a bungalow on. But it wouldn't be a cheap project unless you DIY large parts of it.
Would another option be essentially an industrial unit? But I have no idea if are allowed to live in one as your main residence? It's alot of work/effort to dedicate to cars though.
The trailer (unloaded) can live out front.
Of course, a redundant farmhouse with outbuildings may be even better?
This is not on the scale of OP's thughts, but surely you can see my POV?
I nearly bought such a place about 40 years ago.
'Project house' with a 8 car 'barn' at the bottom of the garden.
There are houses around where you can drive through to the back garden, or have back lane access.
I would suggest that it's not always essential that all your garage/workshop space is in one building. In fact it can be a good thing to split it into two or more buildings. Depending on what work you do, it can separate dirty work from clean vehicles etc.
A single car work space is more feasible to heat for a few hours on winter evening.
Heating your work space, then needing to open a garage do to get your everyday car out is not great!
Adding another garage or workshop may not even require planning.
Adding a building that only needs to be dry storage may not be so expensive.
'Project house' with a 8 car 'barn' at the bottom of the garden.
There are houses around where you can drive through to the back garden, or have back lane access.
I would suggest that it's not always essential that all your garage/workshop space is in one building. In fact it can be a good thing to split it into two or more buildings. Depending on what work you do, it can separate dirty work from clean vehicles etc.
A single car work space is more feasible to heat for a few hours on winter evening.
Heating your work space, then needing to open a garage do to get your everyday car out is not great!
Adding another garage or workshop may not even require planning.
Adding a building that only needs to be dry storage may not be so expensive.
gangzoom said:
To get a garage big enough for what you want, I think you are looking at needing a 100sq meter+ build.
I think my original post may have been misleading. I dont need everything under one roof. I'm happy to have the trailer and 2 cars outside. Hence why a double garage with a high roof would suffice. gangzoom said:
Surely to build a garage big enough for a trailer, race car lift, you are going to have to build on the frontage of any property unless you run the drive way to the back?
.
Sorry I think my post has mislead and I'll correct it. I mention 6x6m because I am not looking to enclose a trailer and all the cars. .
We had a similar issue when house shopping. To get a double garage and the ground floor space we wanted it was only huge houses with huge gardens that were more than we needed. Ended up buying a bungalow on a corner plot with an existing double garage in the back garden (access from the side road).
Before we went ahead we engaged with an architect who does lots of bungalow conversions locally. He advised on feasibility of the build and getting planning. We went for planning permission on the house first, then once that was granted went back for an amendment to demolish the garage and build a bigger one (it was a knackered pre-fab type). The architect advised this was the best way to approach it.
Before we went ahead we engaged with an architect who does lots of bungalow conversions locally. He advised on feasibility of the build and getting planning. We went for planning permission on the house first, then once that was granted went back for an amendment to demolish the garage and build a bigger one (it was a knackered pre-fab type). The architect advised this was the best way to approach it.
I don't know the areas you mention at all well but is there anything rural at that sort of budget? Smaller cottages/bungalows with a bit of land?
You could then build a metal or timber farm style outbuilding that will be in keeping with it's surroundings and make some of the build cost numbers mentioned earlier in the thread sound ridiculous.
You could then build a metal or timber farm style outbuilding that will be in keeping with it's surroundings and make some of the build cost numbers mentioned earlier in the thread sound ridiculous.
A lift to work under an SUV requires a tall building, a Lotus 7, not so much.
An inspection pit is the alternative?
A 6m wide garage with a lift or pit, you either have limited space one side of the lift, or the lift dictates the whole space.
A pit is bad enough, although it's not too hard to make a cover strong enough to park motorbikes on.
An inspection pit is the alternative?
A 6m wide garage with a lift or pit, you either have limited space one side of the lift, or the lift dictates the whole space.
A pit is bad enough, although it's not too hard to make a cover strong enough to park motorbikes on.
ferret50 said:
A fair amount of housing stock from the '40s/50's will have longer rear gardens and maybe a 10/12 foot side access, or even rear access if the OP got lucky!
The trailer (unloaded) can live out front.
Of course, a redundant farmhouse with outbuildings may be even better?
This is not on the scale of OP's thughts, but surely you can see my POV?
I guess it all depends on what OP wants. If the OP just wants essentially a shed/car port or something I suspect what PHers dream about on how a garage should look. If the OP really is prepared to plan a house purchase around cars and willing to spend ££££, than the garage should be something special rather than just a car storage space?The trailer (unloaded) can live out front.
Of course, a redundant farmhouse with outbuildings may be even better?
This is not on the scale of OP's thughts, but surely you can see my POV?
A friend is doing a standard double garage rebuild and costs are coming at £50-60k, if the OP has a budget of £100k+ and isn't aiming for something massive they should be able to something pretty good, a setup like the below is probably in that price bracket..... However if the purchase price of the house/land is £260-300k, spending another £100k just on the garage is some serious PH dedication to the cause....but why not
.
Edited by gangzoom on Sunday 22 March 12:35
gangzoom said:
The Three D Mucketeer said:
That's some dedication...I presume it means your garage occupants are pretty much fixed for life!!? )So we've gone from £100k isn't enough to build the garage the size the OP wants to £100k is enough to build something incredibly over the top to a standard of finishing that most would consider completely unnecessary.
Each to their own I guess but I have no interest in my garage/workshop looking like an Audi showroom or a designer shopping centre.
Go as big as you can OP, space is far more of a luxury in my mind than glossy cabinets and shiny floors.
Each to their own I guess but I have no interest in my garage/workshop looking like an Audi showroom or a designer shopping centre.
Go as big as you can OP, space is far more of a luxury in my mind than glossy cabinets and shiny floors.
The Three D Mucketeer said:
No , I sold the house 7 years ago .... and built another triple garage ( A 2 car showroom and and 1 car dirty side with a vaulted roof for the lift.... I learnt )
Got any pictures? Our garage is just used for pedal bike now, but even so, a dirty/clean split is a good idea ).Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff