Annexe - what constitutes a kitchen in an annexe?

[Karcheer]

Follow on from a previous thread...

We have an annexe that my husband works in (regular office worker wfh due to covid). The previous owners created a kitchen area but it just had kitchen cupboards.
We are just about to redo this area and add a sink and a fridge, so DH can make coffee during the day without coming into the main house.
Will this make the area a kitchen? Am I going to be in trouble with planning?

Or would it need an oven? To be a kitchen?

Planning may only concerns should the annexe be able to be used as a self-contained unit. This would normally require it have its own kitchen and shower/bathroom facilities that can be used independently from the main dwelling.

You may find however there could be Building Regulation implications relating to the provision and installation of new drainage.

It already has its own shower room with toilet, so we were just linking into that drainage.

Re-using existing drainage connections should therefore exempt you from BR’s as well then.

So having a fridge and a sink doesn’t make it a kitchen?

I was on the previous thread about creating an annexe (if that’s what you are referring to OP). We were told by a planning consultant it’s generally an oven that tips a “utility room” (sink, cupboards, fridge) into being a kitchen. A utility room doesn’t make it an independent dwelling (so is fine) but a kitchen does. Don’t forget also that Building Regs and Planning are completely separate issues.

@Daisydoesnt

I was on the previous thread about creating an annexe (if that’s what you are referring to OP). We were told by a planning consultant it’s generally an oven that tips a “utility room” (sink, cupboards, fridge) into being a kitchen. A utility room doesn’t make it an independent dwelling (so is fine) but a kitchen does. Don’t forget also that Building Regs and Planning are completely separate issues.

Thank you.

That makes sense - and what I was hoping! Cant see DH using a cooker out there, so hopefully we will be fine.
We did have to answer lots of questions about our intended use of it for the mortgage company, so didn’t want to upset any future Apple carts - just for DHs cupper!