Mandalay is three homes in one – a three bedroom family property, along with a single bedroom bungalow annexe and separate under-house accommodation, either of which would be ideal as a granny flat or teenager’s crash pad.

The Dewhirst family has lived here for almost six years, and it took them a long time to find their ideal home.

“We needed a property with separate accommodation already available or with the potential to extend, as we had an extended family,” says Simon Dewhirst.

It wasn’t an easy task as they have three children with a wide age spread and elderly parents. When they went to visit a friend who lived in the same area, they spotted Mandalay.

“We fell in love with it instantly, but were concerned about permission to convert the triple garage,” says Simon. “Once we got an indication from the planning department we went ahead.

“You enter into a large hallway that is almost the entire height of the house, with an impressive galleried landing. This, together with the wooden ceiling and skylights, were a key selling point. Another was the lower ground floor, which has its own kitchen, dining room, lounge, bathroom and double bedroom.

“My wife Beverley’s parents initially lived there while the bungalow was being built. Now our eldest son, Jordan, has this area to himself and thinks that having his own living area is a young man’s dream.”

The family made arrangements with an architect and builder to start work within a month of moving in, with the main task converting the L-shaped garage into a detached bungalow.

“We’d used them before so we trusted them. The planning department was very co-operative, understanding that we needed wheelchair access.”

Like any big project, there were obstacles and traumas, but it was completed in good time and the family was delighted with the end result.

The main house has a lounge, dining room, kitchen, en-suite master bedroom, three further bedrooms and family bathroom. It was decorated, re-carpeted and internal doors were changed.

“We have fitted an en-suite bathroom, which gave us twin sinks that stopped the rush to use the bathroom each morning, and a luxury kitchen; the deal being that I could have a large fridge and my wife a wine fridge.”

The family also put in a new gas fire and fireplace in the main lounge, a further kitchen in the lower ground floor, new cloakroom suite, wooden flooring in the hallway and dining room, fitted pine wardrobes in the main bedroom and storage cupboards in another bedroom.

The garden was given a Yorkshire stone patio and barked area for the children.

“When we are at the point that the house is immaculate, work commitments mean we have to move. If it wasn’t for this, we wouldn’t be going anywhere as we have had a fantastic time in the house.”

The family doesn’t have a favourite room. “They are all special to us,” Simon says. “But we do spend a lot of time in the main lounge – it is very light, thanks to four windows and two patio doors, one of which opens on to a balcony. In the summer we can sit on the balcony watching the kids playing on the climbing frame, or enjoying the summer nights.

“We have friendly neighbours and a peaceful atmosphere. While there are other houses, it feels like we are in the country.

“Having three separate living areas is perfect when there are three generations in the same property; each has its privacy. Of course it would be easy to combine the two living areas in the main house.”

Mandalay will appeal to different types of family situations, including running a home business, which could be in the bungalow or lower ground floor.

“We know that whoever ends up at Mandalay will be very happy for a long time,” Simon adds. “We hope that the next family will enjoy it as much as we have.”

Mandalay in Gilstead Lane, Bingley, is on the market for £495,000 with William H Brown, Shipley, tel (01274) 531233, web sequencehome.co.uk