In our last blog, we discussed how garden rooms/offices are becoming more and more of a trend in home design as many homeowners continue to demand more space for their home life.

Across the UK, it is estimated that around 4.6 million garages are no longer used to store cars, with 64% of people claiming that their garage stores items that they no longer have any use for or do not know what to do with. Or they use them to store gardening tools, which could easily be placed in a shed. Do you fall into this category? In this blog, we explore how you could transform your home by finding alternative uses for your wasted garage space and what benefits it can bring! Transforming your garage space can help add more useable space to your home without having to extend or lose garden space, as well as increasing your property value by around 10%. Additionally, due to the versatility of the space, how you choose to use this space is completely up to you and could be easily used for: 

• An extra bedroom 
• Extra bathroom 
• Playroom 
• Kitchen extension 
• Hallway, downstairs toilet and utility space 
• Home cinema 
• Home gym 
• Utility room 
• An extra lounge 
• Home office 

The options available to you are endless and are down to your personal preference/need, but, ultimately, it allows you to gain extra space without moving or worrying about losing one aspect of your home for the benefit of another. Similarly, there are other advantages, including financial rewards/savings and planning permission, that we will discuss below. 

Financial savings/rewards 

We have already mentioned that converting your internal garage can add around 10% to your property value, and with fewer homeowners having garages on their home wishlists, it really is a win-win! Additionally, upgrading to a large home can come with additional costs such as solicitor fees, estate agent fees, stamp duty, and often increased council tax, whereas, garage conversions do not affect tax bands and therefore provide you with additional space without all the extra outgoings. Similarly, it is worth noting that building costs are often minimal with garage conversions as the external structure is already built, so it is often a cost-effective solution compared to a house move or extension. 

Planning permission 

If you are planning to convert your internal garage space, planning permission is often not required unless you are changing the architectural structure of the property. In other words, if the work you plan on completing is internal and does not involve an external extension, then the work should be covered under ‘permitted development rights’. However, planning permission may be required if you:Live in a new build – In some new build properties, there are often terms and conditions that the garage remains as a car parking space. However, in these cases, this isn’t always the end of the road, and an application will need to be put forward to move it. 

Live in a listed building.

Live in an area of conservation. 

Are planning to convert a stand-alone external garage. Nevertheless – this remains a cost-effective alternative to moving or extending, but you need to apply for a ‘change of use’ planning permission to turn this into a living space, such as an office or additional living space.

At Arc Design Services, we specialise in architectural design, dedicated to offering a fresh and exciting approach to every project. With this in mind, Arc Design Services could help you convert your garage as part of your renovation or extension plans to help you create a home suitable for all your family's needs. Contact our experts today at Arc Design Services at www.arcdesignservices.net or 0162 928 4433.