How big should a second bedroom be

[bernardgreen]

What if any are the official requirements or guidelines for a second bedroom ( or sleeping area ) in a retirement home ?

Plan is to build a one bedroom affordable retirement / first time buyer bungalow but parish council strongly suggest it has a second bedroom for guests. One option is a mezzanine floor extending up into the roof space with sloping walls. But what minimum size of area with 7 foot (?) head room ?

 

[^woody^]

There are no specific size requirements for a bedroom. Some local planning authorities may have their own standards, so you need to check

The old Parker Morris standards are guidance only, but I understand that the mayor of London has pledged to bring them back into planning policy.

A parish council can suggest what it likes, but if the proposal conforms to local policy, then their suggestions do not matter much

 

[bernardgreen]

Thanks for the info about Parker Morris, it lead me indirectly to a couple of local council sites that both recommend 2.15 metre height over 50% of the floor area and anywhere where the height is less than 1.5 m is not considered as floor space.

The parish council were giving advice about what the village plan is and what the local planners have been considering as minimum for new builds in this area

 

[garyrayne]

will a second floor mezzanine add much value?? build cost : sales cost

Does this mean the Parish Council don't like one bed properties at all, or is it just because of the market your aiming for?

Strange one that is. as long as the building is in keeping it has nothing to do with how many bedrooms you have to provide. Granted in multi plot schemes a good mix of 2, 3 or 4 bed units is preferrable, but for one plot scheme seems strange.

Parish councils can only suggest, if you disagree it does not mean you will not be granted permission, it's just helpful to keep them on side.

Rather than a mezzanine, could you not extend foot print. a single bed room will be adequate for a 'guest' room. (thinking cost here, double room obviously better)

 

[TicklyT]

The local planning office asked us to demonstrate we had sufficient parking space for another car when we applied for planning permission for an extra bedroom.

In their eyes, another bedroom = another occupant = another driver looking for somewhere to park.

Our argument of another room = another public transport passenger = reduced losses on the local bus service they provide didn't do us much good

 

[^woody^]

Why would you need planning permission for a bedroom in any case?

You may need permission for an extension, but the room inside is irrelevant. If it was going to be an issue, then it becomes an office or a study, or an extension to an existing room, etc etc

 

[garyrayne]

Why would you need planning permission for a bedroom in any case?

You may need permission for an extension, but the room inside is irrelevant. If it was going to be an issue, then it becomes an office or a study, or an extension to an existing room, etc etc

might be too late for that now spoken to planners, but saying it's study is the easy way round.

The planners argument is weak though. You do not provide 5 parking spaces for a 5 bed house.

What happens if you have a visitor for an hour, where do they park?
do you have a garage and drive?

 

[bernardgreen]

As there do not appear to be any "official" minimum sizes for second bedrooms ( or main bedrooms for that matter ) I will have to see what estate agents consider is "compact" and "too compact" for a bedroom.

If necessary it could be described as "storage space" that just happens to be large enough to store some grandchildren on inflateable beds when necessary.