Garden annexe gives a son his independence
A one-bedroom flat locally started at £180,000. An 8m by 5m annexe went up 60 metres down the garden instead, on its own address and its own Council Tax band.
Many of the self-contained garden annexes featured on this site are for families looking to create a home for an elderly relative. However, garden annexes are equally valuable for younger family members who long for a home of their own but struggle to get onto the property ladder. This recent project by Executive Garden Rooms is a perfect example of the latter.
The clients of Executive Garden Rooms wanted to help their son gain independence. Initially, they explored the option of purchasing a one-bedroom flat, but the lowest prices they found were around £180,000. Instead, they cleverly realised that the space in their garden could be utilised to create a one-bedroom garden annexe. After approaching Executive Garden Rooms, they discovered that a modern, self-contained annexe could be built for much less.
Executive Garden Rooms offer a turnkey service, working with their clients from the initial design stage right through to planning and construction. They handle all aspects of the project, including groundworks, until the building is complete.
After an initial site visit and a discussion of the family’s ideas, the Executive Garden Rooms team designed an 8m x 5m garden annexe, featuring a main living space with a kitchenette and a spacious double bedroom with an ensuite shower room.
Since this annexe would be inhabited by a relative under the age of 65, Council Tax is payable. The annexe has been assessed and rated in Band A, with its own address, ‘The Annexe’.
At a glance
- Size: 8m x 5m — a main living space with a kitchenette, and a double bedroom with an en-suite shower room.
- Why: the family looked at buying a one-bedroom flat first, and found nothing below about £180,000.
- Council Tax: payable, because the occupant is under 65. The annexe is rated Band A and has its own address, ‘The Annexe’.
- The groundworks: 60 metres from the house on a sloping plot — excavation, shuttering, a rebar-reinforced slab, and concrete piped down the garden from the lorry.
- The trench: 60 metres, carrying a pumping station, water, foul pipes, armoured electrical cable and CAT6 data.
- The garden after: the lawn had recovered within eight weeks of completion.
- Inside: plastered and decorated, Quickstep Livyn flooring throughout, French doors with glazed side panels, and a floor-to-ceiling window at the end of the kitchen run.
Extensive groundworks
The new annexe was to be built 60 metres from the main house, on a plot with a significant slope. This required substantial groundworks, which the Executive Garden Rooms team managed as part of their turnkey service.
The groundworks involved excavating the site and preparing the shuttering for the foundation. At 8m x 5m, the foundation slab was relatively large and reinforced with steel rebar frames. The concrete for the slab was piped into the garden from a lorry.
In addition to the slab foundation, a 60-metre trench was dug to connect the annexe to the mains services. This included a pumping station, water supply, foul pipes, armoured cables for electrics, and CAT6 data cabling for internet access. All groundworks were completed in line with building regulations.
Although such extensive groundworks can leave the garden looking worse for wear, it’s worth noting that the lawn had recovered within eight weeks of the project’s completion.
Modern home in the garden
As you can see, a modern home has been created. The annexe has been fully plastered and decorated, with Quickstep Livyn flooring laid throughout, creating a light and airy feel.
The main living area enjoys a strong connection with the garden, thanks to French doors with glazed side panels and a floor-to-ceiling window on the side elevation. We particularly like how the window has been positioned at the end of the run of kitchen units. The double bedroom, which leads off the main living space, features a casement window for easy ventilation.
The kitchenette is well-equipped with ample storage cupboards, a single oven with an induction hob and extractor hood, an integrated fridge, and plumbing for a washing machine.
A tiled shower room leads off the bedroom and is fitted with a vanity unit, toilet, 10.8kW shower, sliding shower door, low-profile resin tray, extractor fan, and heater.
Executive Garden Rooms also provide a well-specified electrical package tailored to the client’s needs. For this project, the package included CAT6 data cabling for reliable internet access, two smoke alarms, recessed LED downlights in the ceiling, external security lights, and plenty of power points throughout the annexe. Slimline electric panel heaters were installed for efficient heating.
This project clearly shows how you can transform an area of your garden into a modern home for a relative. While it remains a significant investment, building an annexe like this can give younger family members the opportunity to live independently, while saving for a future step onto the housing ladder.
Learn more about Executive Garden Rooms
To find out more about this project, contact the Executive Garden Rooms team on 01202 874 766 or send them an email: info@executivegardenrooms.co.uk. Visit www.executivegardenrooms.co.uk to explore more of their work.
