We convert garages in Bebington, CH63. Many homes here are inter-war and post-war semis and detached houses with a garage built along the side, and these convert well into studies, utilities, playrooms or small bedrooms. Wirral Council is the authority for planning questions, and a conversion to a habitable room normally needs Building Regulations approval.
Making the most of a narrow side garage
Garages from these periods were often built for smaller cars, which is why so many are used for storage. Their long, narrow shape suits certain rooms better than others:
- Study or officeA desk at the window end and shelving along the length works well in a narrow room.
- Utility and WCA run of appliances along one wall with a WC at the back, if drainage can reach it.
- PlayroomClose to the kitchen and easy to supervise; see garage to playroom.
- Small bedroomPossible where there is space for a bed, storage and a suitable escape window.
Converting only part of it
If you still want somewhere for bikes and the lawnmower, a part garage conversion can turn the back section into a room while the front keeps its door. The dividing wall needs insulation and fire separation, and the new room still has to meet the Building Regulations.
Shared walls and neighbours
On some semis the garage sits against the neighbour’s garage or house. If so, building control may require a certain level of sound insulation for the new room, and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply to work on or near that wall. It is sensible to talk to your neighbour early and get advice on serving notice.
Electrics: usually more than a spur
A garage often has one light and a single socket on an old circuit. A habitable room needs proper lighting, enough sockets and possibly a heating circuit. That is notifiable work under Part P, done by a registered electrician who issues an Electrical Installation Certificate to BS 7671. Our garage conversion electrics page explains what is involved and what paperwork you should get.
Port Sunlight and conservation areas
Nearby Port Sunlight village is a conservation area, and other parts of the Wirral have similar status. If your home is in one, the new front wall and window will need to suit the street, and Wirral Council should be consulted before drawings are fixed. Outside conservation areas, check whether any planning condition removed permitted development rights.
What happens after you get in touch
We call back to ask about the garage, the age of the house and what the room is for, then visit to look at the walls, floor level, roof and services. We talk through layout, drawings and approvals, then send a written quote. Building control inspects as the work goes on, and you keep the completion certificate with your deeds.
Nearby on the Wirral
We also work in Heswall and out to West Kirby on the coast. For the full picture of how we work, see converting garages across Merseyside, or read the garage conversion cost guide. Our Liverpool garage conversion specialists page lists every room type we build.
Ready to use your Bebington garage properly?
Call 07777 659786 or leave your details, tell us about the garage and the room you want, and we will call you back.
Frequently asked questions
Is my Bebington side garage wide enough to convert?
Usually yes for a study, utility or playroom. A bedroom needs space for a bed, storage and an escape window if it is reached through another room. On the visit we measure the garage and talk through what fits comfortably once the walls are lined.
Will lining the walls make the room much narrower?
Insulating the walls takes up some width, which matters in a narrow garage. The exact thickness depends on the wall construction and the insulation used to meet Part L. We explain the options at the visit so you can weigh space against warmth.
Do I need to tell my neighbour about my garage conversion?
If the work affects a shared wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may require you to serve notice. Even when it does not, letting your neighbour know about the building work is a good idea. Get advice on your own situation.
Can I add a WC to my converted garage?
Often, if waste can reach the drains at a suitable fall. New drainage needs approval under Part H, and a WC needs extract ventilation. Where gravity drainage is not possible, a pump-assisted macerator is sometimes used, subject to building control.
Who signs off the conversion when it is finished?
Building control, either Wirral Council’s team or a Registered Building Control Approver, issues the completion certificate. The registered electrician provides an Electrical Installation Certificate. Keep both with the house deeds.