Is it difficult to obtain planning for a granny annex ?

VjIjGjIj

Ok, so I live in a detached property which is off the road in a private lane. I have a reasonably large garden and I am aiming to build an annexe which eventually will be living accomadation for my mother.

Our plan so far is that we have planning permission for a large double garage (big enough for our annex needs we think). After putting this up we are goin to apply for change of use to an annex and retrospective building regs application.

Has anybody ever done this, or something similar ? I have seen planning apps for annexs to my local council that have been successful but all of these have been in the rear garden ( ours is in the front ).

What do you all think ?

davilown

I know very little about planning, but its always worth contacting your local planning office to ask their advice. You only have to read last weeks papers to find a couple who built a double garage and converted it into living space six years ago being told to put it back to garage.

I may also be wrong, but iirc, granny annexes can not then be rented out once there usefulness for the 'granny' has passed.

googler

So, essentially, you're going to press ahead and hoodwInk the council, building as per your app, changing it without permission, the trying to push it through in retrospect?

PasturesNew

I think the OP is just suspicious of the planning process and fearful of asking outright what they want.

It might be better to put in for a HUGE annexe, get that knocked back, then downsize it to the size you really wanted

VjIjGjIj

I have no intention to change its use prior to applying for a 'change of use' but I am reluctant of informing the council planning dept of my full intentions until i have constructed the building ( with correct planning for garage use) as i THINK the neigbourghs may object to the building full stop when they know that we would like it to be used as an annex.

SailorSam

Op have a read of this, see if there's anything here that you think may match your plans. David Cameron wants to boost the building industry so may be making a temporary change to the regulations in an attempt to encourage us all to have an extension.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/sep/06/david-cameron-planning-laws-growth-plan

Davesnave

Basically, you're worried about gaining permission for a structure forward of the building line.

I think councils may exercise some discretion in this situation, depending upon the particular plot.

I say this because when talking to a planning officer recently, I explained that I'd not demolished the existing garage attached to the house because its forward part defined the building line at the front. He replied that we might be able to build forward of that anyway, as we had the space and it was an individual plot rather than a house in a suburban street.

This was different advice from that received 3 years ago, when another planning officer, now retired, advised me to keep the garage for the reasons stated above! :rotfl:

It costs nothing to talk about it anyway.

pmlindyloo

I think what you are doing is a rather strange way of achieving what you want - a granny annex.


If you have planning permission for a double garage and your neighbours have not objected why do you think they would object to a granny annex? (presuming the size of the construction is the same). Why do you think your neighbours don't object to a double garage but would object to a granny annex -e.g would any windows overlook anyone?

Why bother going to the expense of buiding a garage and then altering it to a granny annex?

I suggest that you speak to your planning department and ask for their advice. I have always found them extremely helpful.

You will probably have to put in new planning permission.

We actually converted a garage into a granny annex and the only concern as far as planning was concerned was that there was sufficient space for extra parking ie. showing on the plans where cars would be parked.

Davesnave

SailorSam wrote: »

Op have a read of this, see if there's anything here that you think may match your plans. David Cameron wants to boost the building industry so may be making a temporary change to the regulations in an attempt to encourage us all to have an extension.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/sep/06/david-cameron-planning-laws-growth-plan

Yes, but that relates to building to the rear of the property.

"During the relaxation of the rules, homeowners will be able to extend to six or eight metres beyond the property's rear wall, depending on whether it is a terraced or detached property."

pmlindyloo

Just rereading your post.

So you plan to build the garage and then later turn it into a granny annex?

So you build the garage. Then you want to use it for a granny anneax.

This is no different to what we did.

We used the garage for a granny annex - no extra building involved.

We still need planning permission to change it from a garage to a granny annex and building regulations.

To be honest, I am not sure what you are intending to do.

To change it from a garage to an annex will require planning permission (where the neighbours could object) and a building regulations certificate.

Am I missing something here?

VjIjGjIj

No your not missing anything - that what i want to do ! I guess the best route is to speak to the planning department....I did think that maybe speaking to them first would be a good idea as possibly what seems as 'overdevelopment' in size for a garage may not seem to big for an annex. Logically , the neighbours should not complain about the annex , as they have not objecteed to the garage , and the eventual annex would not be overlooking anyone....but as we all know people can could object if they thought the annex was being used for seperate dwelling in its entierty rather than an annex.

Pmlindy loo - what size is your annex? Did you have any difficulty doing it?