Granny Annex - “New Dwelling” question from Council

Timm1000

Hi all,

We live in a listed building (in Scotland) with a three room storage area out the back which we are looking to convert into a “granny annex” for parents and in-laws to stay when they visit from Australia. It is connected to the main house.
We are dealing with all the issues around the listed building consent, but the council have asked if the proposed area will be a “new dwelling”.
In it’s old life the area had a shower room and kitchenette anyway, so we are effectively just upgrading what was already there.
My view is that it is NOT a new dwelling as this would have adverse implications for council tax etc. The last thing we need is it to be listed as a new house and have to pay extra council tax etc.
Am I right in thinking this? Or are there other implications I haven’t considered?

thanks

CIS

In it’s old life the area had a shower room and kitchenette anyway, so we are effectively just upgrading what was already there.
My view is that it is NOT a new dwelling as this would have adverse implications for council tax etc.

If it's capable of occupation as a self-contained unit - which it sounds like it would be now anyway- there's a good chance it should already have been banded as such. This would create a new dwelling that would be charged council tax.

FreeBear

Remove the kitchenette area from the plan and have the main kitchen as a shared space - This should avoid the "self contained" issues that would arise.