How Do You Get Planning Permission For A Granny Annexe?
In this blog, we’re going to discuss the ins and outs of getting planning permission for a granny annexe.
When you have elderly parents to keep an eye on, you are faced with several choices. You can move them into your home (if you have the room), but this can cause tension and stress within the family unit.
Or you can move them into a costly sheltered accommodation/retirement village and spend your time commuting back and forth. But this puts more on your already full plate. Your third (and best option), is to have a granny annexe built in your garden.
A granny annexe is a stylish and cosy one or two-bedroom self-contained unit. Our granny annexes start at £61,950 and provide a safe and cost-efficient solution for elderly care.
Your elderly parents will be close by and will be able to spend plenty of time with the family. They’ll also have their own independence, privacy and space. And you have peace of mind that you’re nearby if they need you.
Do You Need Planning Permission For A Granny Annexe?
Investing in a granny annexe is a big decision and you likely have a lot of questions. One of the most frequently asked questions is whether or not you need planning permission.
The answer is yes. Any granny annexe or outbuilding that is built for the purpose of someone living and sleeping in it needs planning permission. But don’t let that put you off! Gaining planning permission is not as daunting as you may think – it doesn’t take as long as you’d imagine either.
At Family Annexe, obtaining planning permission for your granny annexe is part of our unrivalled service.
How To Get Planning Permission For A Granny Annexe
Choosing the right granny annexe supplier is usually the first step in getting planning permission for your granny annexe.
At Family Annexe, we use a two-pronged approach to obtaining planning permission from your Local Planning Authority (LPA). Each LPA will have its own approach to planning policies and guidance.
Householder Application
First, we try to obtain planning permission through a household application, as this is our preferred method. Unless you live in a conservation area, national park, green belt, site of special scientific interest, or area of outstanding natural beauty, this process is pretty much the same across the whole of the UK.
Our planning experts fill out all the necessary paperwork, dot the I’s and cross the T’s, and work closely with your Case Officer. The Case Officer will make the decision before receiving approval from your Local Planning Authority (LPA).
Once we’ve obtained planning permission, we will receive a planning notice which will include conditions that much be adhered to during the build.
Although unlikely, there is a small chance that planning permission through the household application will be denied. This may be due to a minor issue. If this occurs, we will amend or appeal the decision before moving onto our second option – the Caravan Act.
Caravan Act
The Caravan Act (1968) explains what a caravan is and states that it can lawfully be kept on your property.
Even though our granny annexes are fully functioning homes connected to utilities, the parameters mean they can be classed as a caravan in the eyes of the law – which is great news for you!
This means we can obtain a Certificate of Lawfulness from your Local Planning Authority to prove your annexe is lawfully situated – and then go ahead with the build.
Granny Annexe Planning Permission Timeline
Family Annexe provides a turn-key service, meaning we take care of everything from start to finish. We aim to ensure your experience is as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. So, we have a seamless seven-step process:
- Phone consultation
- Quote and drawings
- Site survey
- Build specification
- Planning permission
- Project build
- Keys handover
Obtaining planning permission and building the annexe are two of the bigger steps. To give you an idea of a time frame, it takes on average 8-13 weeks to obtain planning permission. And to build one of our larger two-bedroom annexes, it takes our experts just 7-8 weeks!
This means that you can have a spectacular granny annexe built to the highest of standards within just a few short months.
Get In Touch
If you have any questions about planning permission, choosing a granny annexe or prices, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. You can email us at info@familyannexe.com or call us on 0330 1332 668.
Family Annexe offers a range of luxurious, yet great value granny annexes available in one or two-bedroom models. To see the full range of annexes and view the specifications, please download our brochure.
