Okay people strange question but I am looking at putting a downstairs loo in however what is the minimm space you would need.....I think I need to take away a little bit of the kitchen or maybe....possibly I wil be building a breakfast/sitting room extension/and may put the downstairs loo there..? how much space do you need want loo and a basin thats all.   

Remember that if you annex part of the kitchen for a loo you'll need (by law) a second door with a small lobby between the kitchen and the loo - the door can't open straight into the kitchen (hygeine regulations).

I suggest you visit some public loos with a tape measure and see how much space feels comfortable to use!

I under stood that to be the case JG, recently though we've been viewing houses to buy and a number have loo's opening out on to the kitchen, all with a completion certificate from the local council.

Eeeeewwww! How horrid!

I'll have to have a look at the regs again. :-)

Used to be like that but they have changed the regs now !!!

The Building Regs were changed yonks ago At one time you couldn't have a bedroom off a kitchen either without a double door !!

You'll have to decide whether you want the door to open inwards or outwards. If inwards you need a bigger room than if it's opening outwards (where you need space outside for the door to open fully). I'd say about 5' long by 4' wide would be a comfortable minimum to not feel cramped and have to squeeze past the washbasin.

I just had a cloakroom built and January and my builder told me the same thing JG. Maybe it depends on where you live? or he's out of date.

Anyway, I had a very small space under the stairs that used to be the entrance to the kitchen. I walled that off on the kitchen side and it's surprisingly spacious in there. I thought it would feel small but it feels quite large with the vaulted ceiling. It's only 3 feet wide and the total floor area is about 6.5 m2. It would have been easier to section off the kitchen but thought who would want to listen to someone in the toilet while cooking and what guest would want to use it while people were in the kitchen. I think anything off a hall is much better for privacy. Not to mention I really wouldn't want a toilet in my kitchen.

I too don't think I would want a toilet in the kitchen- what about off a hall way or porch or even downstairs in the basement? I want to put a second bathroom in but think we will put it in our basement.

Not many houses over here have basements, dollface. It's a shame because it's a good way of giving extra living space without using more land.

Hiya all I will try to clarify...firstly thanks for your replies. I am planning on using the understairs cupbaord space in the kitchen for the toilet and rerouting the back door to another space so there would be toilet where the door is now adn maybe a utility area too in  total about 10ftx 4ft a door into the utility bt then a door into the loo.....seperate from the kitchen.

Or building an extension...(toughts to anyhow) and put the loo in there with utility and then a breakfast/sitting room...........Thanks will visit a few new builds and look what they've got.