Building a Granny Annexe in your Garden
…with a little musical support from Ken Dodd (Optional!)
Granny annexes can be a minefield both emotionally and practically, but if you get both aspects right an annexe can be a good solution for all the family.
Emotionally – Can you live with your parents and can they live with you?
If you haven’t talked about the pros and cons of how you would function together on a daily basis it’s important to do so, before moving in together. Don’t assume it will automatically work just because you enjoy spending a few hours together now and again. If you have discussed living together and are all committed to getting along then you are on the route to happiness.
Practically – Is the spare bedroom going to be big enough?
If you haven’t got room for granny in your current house you may be thinking of extending. Building a granny annexe is a big investment, so you need to think carefully about whether you would want to attach an annexe to your house or build a detached one in the garden.
A detached annexe is more flexible if you want to sell your house in the future. Other people could use it as: –
- Family games room/garden room
- Teenagers den
- Garden office for small business
- Bed and breakfast.
Of course it doesn’t have to be a parent that moves into a garden annexe. You could build one for a young adult who can’t afford their own home.
Planning permission
Planning permission for granny annexes is difficult to obtain in some geographical areas, though the government announced in June 2012 that it would consider relaxing the rules on planning permission for living annexes. But will this happen?
If it looks as if you may have trouble getting planning permission for a granny annexe you could consider other ways of using a building in the garden to solve your accommodation problems.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be one of the family that goes to live in the annexe, it may make more sense to move another household function out into the garden, freeing up living space for granny or a young adult within the house.
For example moving your home office or guest room into a garden building can relieve pressure on the house. Opting for a well-insulated garden room with w.c. and a small kitchen makes the most of garden and gives family members somewhere to go for quiet, personal space during the day.
The advantage of this type of ancillary building, that isn’t someone’s primary home, is that planning permission is much easier to obtain.
So deciding if you can share your home with granny or a boomerang child requires a careful household audit so that it doesn’t end in tears….
Written by: Lynn Fotheringham who is the owner of InsideOut Buildings and has been building granny annexes for nine years. You can contact her for friendly advice, ideas and to learn about all types of garden rooms and offices.
Lynn Fotheringham
InsideOut Buildings Ltd., The Green, Over Kellet, Lancashire, LA6 1BU
tel: 01524 737999
web: InsideOut Garden Offices and Annexes
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