Granny annexes in the UK
A granny annexe is a self-contained home in the garden, with its own kitchen, bathroom and somewhere to sleep. It lets a relative live close to the family and keep their independence, and many are also used by grown-up children, carers or visiting family.
Illustrated from a scale model by The Garden Room & Annexe Guide.
In short
- The projects: all built by UK companies and listed newest first. They range from compact studios under 25sqm to two-bedroom homes of 95sqm. Smaller factory-built units are often sold as granny pods.
- Planning: most were built with full planning permission and Building Regulations sign-off. Others were built to BS3632, the residential mobile home standard, and sited under the Caravan Act with a Lawful Development Certificate.
- Cost: as a guide, building prices run from around £50,000 for a compact studio to £160,000 or more for two bedrooms. Where they aren’t included, groundworks and mains connections typically add £15,000 to £20,000.
- Ex-display: some specialists occasionally sell ex-display annexes from their show sites. They come up rarely, so it is worth asking the companies that cover your area.
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Granny annexe projects
Every annexe project featured on The Guide, newest first. Each one links to the full write-up, with the floor plan, size and the company that built it.
A Two-Bedroom Garden Annexe in Rochester by The Green Room
The Eastward Lodge is a two-bedroom garden annexe by The Green Room in Rochester, Kent. At about 72sqm, it has two equal double bedrooms, a full kitchen with a utility, a level-access shower room and a vaulted living space.
A Three-Bedroom Garden Annexe for Parents by The Green Room
The Burlington Lodge is a three-bedroom garden annexe by The Green Room, built as a self-contained home for the homeowners’ parents instead of a bungalow nearby. At 81sqm, it has two double bedrooms, a full kitchen with a utility and garden views.
A Wedge-Shaped Holiday Cabin in Dorset by SIPS Garden Rooms
The Nest, a holiday cabin for two near Milton Abbas in Dorset, is a wedge-shaped SIP building by SIPS Garden Rooms, raised up at the edge of a copse and showing how SIP panels can be shaped beyond a rectangle.
Booths Garden Studios Now Rent Granny Annexes
Booths Garden Studios now rent self-contained granny annexes as well as selling them. Families pay an installation fee and a monthly rent from £745, with the option to keep renting, buy the annexe, or return it.
Mobile Home Annexe for a Steeply Sloping Garden by A Room in the Garden
A mobile home annexe by A Room in the Garden, raised on ground screws on a steeply sloping garden with views to the South Downs. Natural and dark-painted Redwood and a flexible layout serve guests, family and an art studio.
95sqm Residential Annexe in Essex by SIPS Garden Rooms
A 95sqm residential annexe in Essex by SIPS Garden Rooms, giving a family member an independent home steps from the house. Two large bedrooms under a mono-pitch living roof, two air source heat pumps, and delivered turnkey in eight weeks.
A One-Bedroom Annexe with a Full-Size Kitchen by The Green Room
The Ridgemount is a 50sqm one-bedroom annexe by The Green Room, built in Leicestershire for a family member. It has a full-size kitchen, a double bedroom with built-in wardrobes and a level-access walk-in shower, all under a vaulted ceiling.
A One-Bedroom Annexe in Reclaimed Barn Boards by Timeless Garden Rooms
A 10m x 5m one-bedroom annexe by Timeless Garden Rooms replaces an old shed in a forgotten corner of the garden. Reclaimed barn boards, Crittall-style glazing and a copper-topped reclaimed kitchen give a simple modern form real character.
A 9m x 5m Self-Contained Garden Annexe in Hampshire by Executive Garden Rooms
A 9m x 5m self-contained garden annexe in Hampshire by Executive Garden Rooms, built for an elderly relative as an alternative to buying a one-bedroom flat. A sage green kitchen, bedroom, shower room, full planning permission and Building Control sign-off.
Designing an Annexe Around the People Who Will Call It Home
A guest post from Swift Unlimited on how a garden annexe should be designed: listening to the person who will live there before drawing a plan, testing ideas with mood boards, developing the concept and costings together, then checking it all on site.
An 8m x 5m One-Bedroom Garden Annexe by Swift Unlimited
An 8m x 5m one-bedroom garden annexe by Swift Unlimited, built as a second building for returning clients. The 40sqm plan holds a 9sqm bedroom, en-suite shower room, and an L-shaped living space with a kitchen and breakfast bar.
6m x 3.5m Guest Annexe in Worthing by Miniature Manors
A 6m x 3.5m guest annexe in Worthing by Miniature Manors, tucked into established planting behind a fisherman’s cottage. An L-shaped room with a double bed and bespoke birch ply bunks, black corrugated metal and charred timber on the outside.
Compact One Bed Annexe by Annexe Spaces
A 6m x 3.3m one bed annexe in Sutton by Annexe Spaces. Rather than leaving it open plan, walls are used thoughtfully to define a shower room, kitchen living area and bedroom, with extra height adding space.
The Bothy by JML Garden Rooms: A Pitched-Roof Garden Room and Annexe
In a market of flat-roofed garden rooms, JML Garden Rooms’ Bothy stands out. This bespoke 31sqm pitched-roof annexe on Loch Fyne uses its height for a mezzanine office above a ground-floor games room, kitchenette and shower room — built to withstand an exposed Argyll lochside.
Two-Bedroom Accessible Garden Annexe by Vita Modular
This 55sqm two-bedroom garden annexe in Reading by Vita Modular pairs a standing seam metal roof and vertical timber cladding with black aluminium glazing to every room. Designed around accessibility, it delivers a self-contained, step-free home for year-round living.
From Underused Garage to Boutique Rental: A Custom Garden Rooms Annexe
A tired garage in Shrewsbury has become a stylish, self-contained Custom Garden Rooms annexe, designed from the start as a short-term rental. With planning handled, a cleverly divided 7m x 3m layout and a private courtyard, it shows what a compact annexe can deliver.
Booths Garden Studios: Garden Rooms and Annexes to Buy or Rent
Booths Garden Studios have launched a new website. Established in 1999, they build zero-maintenance garden offices and self-contained annexes in steel, UPVC and glass — with no timber to paint or stain, and the choice to buy or rent.
Ivyo 945 One-Bedroom Annexe by Garden Annexes
This Ivyo 945 by Garden Annexes is the largest footprint in the Ivyo range — around 57 sqm externally — configured as a spacious one-bedroom home with vaulted ceilings, full-height glazing, a full kitchen and an en-suite reached by a pocket door.
Vagabond Haven Evergreen: A Scandinavian Modular Home for Garden Annexe Living
The Vagabond Haven Evergreen is a 41sqm Scandinavian modular home with two separate bedrooms, a full fitted kitchen, a wet-room bathroom, and a fully furnished interior. Light-filled thanks to its vaulted ceiling, it makes a great permanent garden annexe — now entering the UK market.
Garden Office, Gym and Guest Bedroom Annexe by A Room in the Garden
This annexe by A Room in the Garden delivers a home office, gym and self-contained guest accommodation in one garden building — giving a busy family the space they need and genuine privacy for everyone on the property.
Vagabond Haven Elise: Self-Contained Tiny House Living
The Vagabond Haven Elise is a 25sqm self-contained tiny house with two sleeping lofts, a full oak-topped kitchen with dishwasher, and a proper wet-room bathroom. A Swedish company, newly entering the UK market, built to Scandinavian year-round standards.
Annexxa 635 by Garden Annexes: Open-Plan Living in a 31sqm Footprint
This Annexxa 635 by Garden Annexes packs open-plan living, a well-appointed kitchen, en-suite shower room and flexible sleeping into a 30.9sqm footprint. Wide-board cladding, shadow gap detailing, and a soft blue-grey palette make for a compact annexe with considered architectural character.
Garden Living Annexe in Matfield by Ark Design Build
A 50sqm Ark Design Build garden annexe in Matfield, Kent, combines open-plan living, separate bedroom with garden views, generous en-suite, and store. Low-maintenance Thermowood cladding, anthracite grey door and window frames. A turnkey route from design through Building Control to complete handover.
44.3sqm One-Bedroom XB Annexe by Garden Annexes
This Garden Annexes XB 745 is a one-bedroom annexe with 38.1sqm of living space internally, Mallard Green cladding and black-framed glazing. Open-plan living opens to the garden; the bedroom has three tall windows with pleasing rhythm. Turnkey handover by the in-house team.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need planning permission for a granny annexe?
- Yes. A granny annexe has its own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping space, so it is not covered by the Permitted Development rights that apply to garden rooms. It needs either full planning permission with Building Regulations, or the Caravan Act route, where the annexe is usually built to BS3632 and its siting is confirmed with a Lawful Development Certificate. Planning and the Caravan Act route →
- How much does a granny annexe cost?
- Building prices run from around £50,000 for a compact studio to £160,000 or more for two bedrooms. Where they aren’t included, groundworks and mains connections typically add £15,000 to £20,000. Whether VAT is included depends on the planning route, so check each quote. Granny annexe costs →
- Do you pay council tax on a granny annexe?
- Usually a granny annexe is assessed for council tax in its own right, separately from the main house. In England and Wales, an annexe occupied by a dependent relative may be exempt, and in England a 50% reduction applies where the annexe is a relative’s main home, or is used by someone in the main house as part of their own home. The rules depend on your circumstances and differ in Scotland and Wales, so confirm the position with your local council and the Valuation Office (part of HMRC) in England and Wales, or the Assessor in Scotland. Council tax on an annexe: where to check →
- What is the difference between a granny annexe, a granny flat and a granny pod?
- They describe the same thing: a self-contained home in the garden, usually lived in by someone connected to the main household. “Granny flat” is more often used for accommodation inside or attached to the house. “Granny pod” is usually used for smaller, factory-built units. Granny pods →
- What is the best granny annexe in the UK?
- There isn’t a single best one. The right annexe depends on who will live in it, the size and shape of the garden, the planning route and the budget. The projects above show the range, and the Garden Room & Annexe Directory lists annexe specialists by area, planning route and design approach.
Find granny annexe specialists that cover your area
The Garden Room & Annexe Directory lists UK companies that build granny annexes, filtered by location, planning route and design approach.
Last updated October 2026 · Part of our garden annexe guide.
