Garden Granny Annexe
First Published: 2 June 2021
Refreshed: 30 September 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes 10 seconds
The pandemic made many of us reassess family dynamics and explore new ways to bring loved ones closer. For numerous families, a self-contained garden living annexe has proven to be the ideal solution, allowing relatives to live nearby while maintaining their independence. In the post-pandemic period, there has been a significant increase in habitable garden annexe projects. Executive Garden Rooms is a trusted name in this sector, with a wealth of experience in designing bespoke garden annexes.
No Space to Accommodate Relatives in the House
Executive Garden Rooms' client wanted her mother to live with them but didn't have enough space inside the house.
Thinking creatively, they explored the option of using the space at the end of their garden to create a purpose-built home. This option offers independent living while keeping the family just a short walk away along the garden path.
The family chose to work with Executive Garden Rooms, who have extensive experience in designing garden granny annexes.
Working closely with the family, the Executive Garden Rooms team designed a 7.25m wide by 4.5m deep building that maximises the available space, fitting perfectly between three boundary fences.
Designed for Independent Living
The annexe has been laid out as a self-contained, one-bedroom apartment.
You enter through French doors into the main living area. A well-equipped kitchenette has been installed at the rear of the room, alongside a utility cupboard housing a pressurised water tank.
This layout leaves plenty of space for living room furniture. From the seating area, you can enjoy views of the garden through the French doors.
Leading off the main room is the bedroom, which includes an ensuite shower room. The bedroom also benefits from views of the garden through a casement window.
Pocket doors have been installed in the bedroom. These discreetly slide into the wall when open, eliminating the swing of a conventional door and freeing up valuable floor space—an important consideration when designing a compact home.
Hot Water on Tap
The ensuite shower room leads off the bedroom and features a 600mm x 600mm Velux roof window, flooding the space with natural light. This roof light is remotely operated and features rain sensors that automatically close the window when it starts to rain.
To ensure consistent hot water and strong pressure in the shower, Executive Garden Rooms fit a 125-litre pressurised water cylinder in their annexes. Few companies go to this level of detail, but it guarantees that the water pressure remains stable, with no risk of someone turning on a tap in the main house and reducing the shower to a trickle!
A Mix of Heating OptionsTitle
Air conditioning has been installed in the main living area, allowing the owner to maintain a comfortable temperature. The system provides both heating and cooling options.
This photo shows the external unit of the air conditioning system.
In the bedroom, an electric panel heater has been fitted to provide additional warmth.
Groundworks and Connections Included
Unlike some garden annexe companies that install the building but leave you to arrange the connections to mains supplies, Executive Garden Rooms handle all the plumbing and electrical connections as part of their comprehensive service.
For this project, the service included installing a pumping station for the foul waste, as the garden’s slope was insufficient to allow the waste to reach the manhole at the rear of the house unaided.
The Executive Garden Rooms team took care of all the necessary groundworks to connect the annexe’s plumbing and electrics to the mains supply, with Building Control signing off on the work.
Planning Permission and Building Control Applications
A garden granny annexe like this requires planning permission for construction, and all work must also be signed off by Building Control.
These approvals can seem daunting, but Executive Garden Rooms manage the entire process on behalf of their clients, making it a relatively stress-free experience.
Low Maintenance Exterior Finishes
Executive Garden Rooms design their annexes with low maintenance in mind. Anthracite Grey uPVC doors and windows have been combined with creamy white Cedral cladding boards.
Cedral is a cement fibre board that is coloured during the manufacturing process, so it doesn’t require repainting to maintain its appearance. It also offers excellent fire resistance, making it a popular choice with Building Control as an exterior finish.
A Few Words from the Owner
Excellent service from start to finish. Very impressed with the build and the work rate.
Would highly recommend. From the design and planning application Alison was very knowledgeable and very patient and always available if I needed to discuss things with her.
On the construction side, John and the team were incredible, always on time and early and worked until last light. Very respectful and always happy to discuss any aspects of the build with me.
If you are thinking of constructing a garden office or an addition dwelling, you will not be disappointed with Executive Garden
Rooms."
Learn More
To find out more about creating a self-contained living annexe, contact the Executive Garden Rooms team on 01202 874 766 or email them at info@executivegardenrooms.co.uk. Visit their website to learn more about their annexes.
