Building an annexe at the bottom of the garden?

[Fleetheart]

Hello, I have a thirties semi with a really long garden. Am thinking that I could have a little annexe built for my 83 year old mum at the bottom. Has anyone done this? Do you know how I would have to go about getting planning permission etc? Is it a feasible thing to do?

My neighbour has done this. His son and girlfriend live in it, have done for several years, I'm not sure if he needed or seeked planning permission, they are absolutely no bother, very quiet, no problem for me and not my business. Their garden is also very long and house is 1930s semi. They have a heated living and sleeping area, the neighbour shown me it a good while ago, l think they use the kitchen and bathroom in the house, but not sure because various builders have worked on annex over the years. I think this is becoming more common now.

Yes, you would probably need planning permission - have a look on your local council website for the relevant information.

Yes, you definitely need planning permission, on a householder application form.

You need planning to put a bathroom in which would seem desirable if she is 83. I think that it would be treated as a separate residence and additional council tax would then be charged. It's definitely worth getting some advice on what you can and can't do legally. Councils are insisting that dwellings are removed where planning is not in place as so many unscrupulous people are renting them out illegally.

Is it practical for an 83 yr to live at the bottom of the garden? Will you also have to put in accessible pathways and ramps? How will carers enter the property? Is she at risk of crime?

Yes it can de done, but I expect planning permission will be needed if over a certain size and also your water company will also need to see plans. My neighbour has a couple of summer houses/sheds, no planning permission needed, they don’t have water supply or electricity. Two of her sons lived in them. One was joined to garage via a door and the other at the end of her garden. We had a brick porch fitted and I sent an email to our councils planning department with sizes, that was ok, but I think anything more than 3 metres x 1 metre, needed proper plans submitted.

You would need pp and its success may depend whetherthere are other restrictions such as aonb or Conservation Area and its proximity to boundaries and other properties. If granted it would likely be conditional as ancillary use to the existing property, so not for use as airbnb or rental. Bear in mind things like water/sewage, gas and so on are required and often not cheap to extend.