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.
Annexxa 845 One-Bedroom Annexe by Garden Annexes
This Annexxa 845 by Garden Annexes is 51.15 sqm, configured as a one-bedroom home with open-plan living, L-shaped kitchen and en-suite. Low-maintenance exterior, mono-pitch roofline and full turn-key from design to handover.
One Bedroom Mobile Home Annexe
This elegant East Sussex mobile home annexe by A Room in the Garden sits lightly at the end of a family garden, combining higher ceilings, calm neutral interiors and thoughtful materials to create a wonderfully light and airy, comfortable home with its own outdoor space.
29.4sqm Open-Plan Ivyo by Garden Annexes
This 29.4 sqm open-plan Ivyo 540 by Garden Annexes is finished in Midnight Black with a vaulted ceiling, exposed trusses and zoned living, kitchen and bedroom space. En-suite shower room and a full turnkey handover, including groundworks and services.
36.98sqm One-Bedroom Garden Annexe by Swift Unlimited
This 8.6m x 4.3m self-contained garden annexe in Cheshire by Swift Unlimited was built with full planning and Building Regs for multi-generational living. SIPs on ground screws, cedar cladding, a Shaker kitchen and en-suite; delivered turnkey from design to handover.
A Room in the Garden Designed to Fit an Angled Plot
A Room in the Garden has created a bespoke garden room that follows the angled boundaries of this plot, maximising every inch of space. The made-to-measure design combines a home office, gym, and guest room, with impressive architectural detailing.
Garden Living Annexes by Green Retreats
Green Retreats has introduced a signature range of garden living annexes designed for relatives of all ages. Choose from The Den, The Nest, or The Hide — each tailored for comfort, style, and year-round living under the Caravan Act or full planning.
Family Annexe and Weekend Retreat by Timeless Garden Rooms
This one-bedroom annexe by Timeless Garden Rooms serves as a family retreat and guest accommodation with a cinema room. Featuring vaulted ceilings, a Farrow & Ball finish, and full Building Regulations approval, it’s a comfortable year-round living space built to modern house standards.
Flexible Multi-Purpose Garden Annexe in Sheffield
Heritage Living Group designed and built this 8m x 4.5m garden annexe in Sheffield. With SIPs construction, Millboard cladding, a stylish kitchenette, shower room, and bi-fold doors, it’s a comfortable year-round space for flexible use.
Buy a Second Hand Booths Garden Annexe
Booths Garden Annexes offer second hand living annexes that comply with the Caravan Act. With significant savings compared to new, and installation by the Booths team included, these annexes provide a cost-effective way to create a comfortable home.
Beach Hut Annexe by Timeless Garden Rooms
Timeless Garden Rooms replaced an ageing coastal chalet with a 30sqm fully insulated annexe. Finished with reclaimed interiors and traditional detailing, the beach hut-style building offers comfortable year-round use and a characterful retreat that blends seamlessly with its seaside setting.
One-Bedroom Annexe with Mediterranean Style by Vita Modular
This compact one-bedroom garden annexe by Vita Modular features a crisp white render, bold Greek blue bi-folds, and a bespoke interior layout. Designed as a turnkey living space, the project showcases Vita’s steel-framed build system and performance-driven materials.
31.5sqm One Bedroom Annexe in the Garden
Swift Unlimited designed this 31.5sqm one-bedroom garden annexe in Dorset for an autistic adult, ensuring privacy and independence while keeping family support nearby. Featuring Douglas Fir cladding, large sliding doors, a stylish kitchenette, and an en-suite shower room, it’s a bespoke, low-maintenance home.
iHus Garden Annexes
iHus specialises in quality, self-contained garden annexes for year-round living. With three distinct ranges, tailored designs, and a full turnkey service, iHus provides durable, energy-efficient homes across England and Wales, ensuring comfort and independence for multi-generational living.
Living Annexes by A Room in the Garden
A Room in the Garden designs high-quality living annexes, offering turnkey solutions for both full planning permission and mobile homes under the Caravan Act. This article explores their projects, showcasing how they tailor each annexe to suit individual client needs.
Super SIPs: Flexible Solutions for Garden Rooms, Annexes & Extensions
Super SIPs provides pre-designed and bespoke garden rooms, annexes, and house extensions. Customers can choose full installation services or self-build kits, offering flexibility and cost savings. Their solutions cater to diverse needs, from compact pods to multi-room homes.
Future Proofed Garden Annexe
Annexe Spaces created this 54sqm bespoke garden annexe featuring thoughtful design and practical elements for modern retirement living. Built under the Caravan Act, it includes accessible interiors, a low-maintenance exterior, and was completed within a comprehensive turnkey service.
L-Shaped Two-Bedroom Garden Annexe
AMC Garden Rooms designed this bespoke L-shaped garden annexe in Hertford for a family with teenagers. Spanning 70.78sqm, it offers two double bedrooms, a high-spec kitchen, a stylish living space, and low-maintenance exteriors, blending practicality with elegance.
Contemporary Garden Homes by Quick Garden
Quick Garden’s BELLA garden homes combine modern design with specification flexibility, featuring slow-grown Spruce cladding and dark-stained accents. Available in three sizes, they offer up to three bedrooms, insulation options, and customisation. DIY or professional installation options.
Two Room Annexe with Kitchen & Ensuite
Executive Garden Rooms crafted this 33.75sqm annexe in Verwood, complete with a kitchenette, shower room, and spacious living area. Its contemporary design, turnkey service, and low-maintenance finishes make it an ideal, light-filled solution for self-contained living in the garden.
One Bedroom Annexe Overcomes Significant Slope
In Tunbridge Wells, Ark Design Build have created a 42sqm garden annexe that skilfully overcomes a challenging sloped site. The contemporary barn-style building features a dual-pitched zinc roof, black Thermowood cladding and a well-appointed interior with vaulted ceilings throughout.
Garden Studio Apartment
A 5.5m x 5.8m garden studio apartment from Booths offers flexible, open-plan living space. Designed to comply with the Caravan Act, this portable annexe features a kitchen, shower room and customisable living area, making it suitable for both younger and older relatives.
Garden Annexes Kitchens: Heart of the Home, Even When Downsizing
Garden Annexes ensure that downsizing doesn’t mean sacrificing your kitchen. With customisable layouts and finishes, you can design a kitchen that suits your style and needs, maintaining practicality and charm while making it the heart of your garden annexe.
Spacious Garden Living Annexes: A Simple Design Trick
Choosing a pitched roofline for your garden annexe can create a vaulted ceiling, enhancing the sense of space and light. Garden Annexes’ St. George range demonstrates how this design trick transforms interiors, making them feel open and airy with added character and style.
Garden Rooms & Annexes Support Multi-Generational Living
The rise of multi-generational living in the UK, highlighted by Make Room Outside’s survey, shows 71.4% of adults open to this lifestyle. Key motivators include caregiving, financial savings, and post-breakup support. Garden rooms and annexes offer flexible, efficient housing solutions.
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.
