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.
Find granny annexe specialists working in your part of the UK
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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.
Functional Self-Contained Garden Annexe
Swift Unlimited crafted this compact 27.88m² garden annexe with a separate bedroom, kitchenette, and living roof. Thoughtful design maximised space within boundary constraints, integrating storage and a Velux window for light. Completed in three weeks, it’s stylishly functional.
SIP’s Granny Annexe
Annexe Spaces built an 8m x 5m SIPs granny annexe in Scotland. The one-bedroom home includes a bright living area, well-equipped kitchen, and modern shower room. Highly insulated for comfort and efficiency, the project covered planning, groundworks, and utility connections, offering a comprehensive solution.
A Granny Annexe Needn’t Dominate the Garden
A compact L-shaped granny annexe by Booths demonstrates how self-contained living spaces can fit harmoniously in smaller gardens. Built under the Caravan Act, this one-bedroom dwelling offers modern, light-filled accommodation without overwhelming the original property.
Student Den in the Garden
Timeless Garden Rooms designed this stylish student den with a modern mono-pitch roof, Larch cladding, and custom sliding doors. The 6m x 3.5m space features three rooms: two living areas and a shower room, offering privacy and practicality for a university student.
12m x 5m Two Bedroom Granny Annexe
Timeless Garden Rooms designed this 12m x 5m granny annexe with two bedrooms, a vaulted living area, and a shower room. Featuring underfloor heating, wheelchair-accessible doors, and a veranda, it offers independence, comfort, and thoughtful futureproofing for elderly family members.
Flexible Garden Room: Home Office & Guest Accommodation
Swift Unlimited designed this 8.15m x 4.65m garden room blending a home office with guest accommodation. Featuring extensive glazing, Cedar cladding, and composite decking, it required planning permission due to its height. The dual-purpose space offers functionality with seamless indoor-outdoor integration.
5 Sided Garden Annexe
Executive Garden Rooms designed a unique five-sided garden annexe with no 90-degree corners, maximising space and functionality. This 30sqm, self-contained home features an open-plan layout and pressurised water system. Supplied on a turnkey basis including planning services and groundworks.
Garden Apartment for a Long Garden
A 7.5m x 5m garden annexe creates a modern studio apartment in the middle of a long garden. The design features bi-fold doors at both ends, fitted furniture, high-spec kitchen and shower room, maximising space while maintaining garden views.
Living the Dream in a Norwegian Log Annexe
A couple fulfilled their dream of owning a log cabin by building a bespoke Norwegian Log annexe in their daughter’s garden. This low-maintenance, two-bedroom home complies with the Caravan Act, offering charm, practicality, and a seamless downsizing solution.
L-Shaped Granny Annexe
Booths Garden Studios offers spacious L-shaped granny annexes under the Caravan Act, featuring open-plan living spaces with modern kitchens and shower rooms. Their QCB range provides a cost-effective, planning-friendly solution with a 25-year warranty and extensive glazing for natural light.
Garden Annexe in Scotland
JML Garden Rooms built this 33sqm annexe in Scotland, providing independent living for a family’s mother. Featuring off-site SIPs construction, quick installation, and a modern design, the light-filled home includes a vaulted living room, kitchen, bedroom, and shower room.
Garden Granny Flat
Executive Garden Rooms specialise in bespoke garden granny flats, offering a fully managed service from design to completion. Their projects feature custom layouts, like this well-insulated L-shaped annexe with a sedum roof, and fire-resistant cladding for durability.
Garden Bedroom with En Suite
A 6m x 3.6m en-suite garden bedroom in Dorset was built by Executive Garden Rooms. The turnkey project includes design, utility connections, and planning management. The well insulated annexe features wrap-around glazing and a spacious shower room.
Replace a Garage with a Holiday Let
A garden annexe can generate rental income with proper permissions. Miniature Manors transformed the site of an old garage into a stylish, self-contained holiday let with a double bed, kitchen, shower room, and decked terrace. Required Planning Permission & Building Control.
Guest Bedroom in the Garden
Building a garden bedroom is an efficient alternative to a home extension. This 6m x 4.3m self-contained annexe by Executive Garden Rooms features an en-suite shower room, kitchenette, and high-spec finishes. Their turnkey service covers design, construction, and regulatory compliance.
Garden Annexe Gives a Son His Independence
Executive Garden Rooms built an 8m x 5m self-contained garden annexe, providing a modern, independent home for a young family member. Featuring a living space, kitchenette, double bedroom with ensuite, and full mains connections, it’s a cost-effective alternative to traditional housing.
14.5m Garden Room That Spans the Width of the Garden
Swift Unlimited designed a 14.5m garden annexe spanning the garden’s width, featuring two living spaces, a shower room, and storage with a seamless “secret door.” Its flexible design supports evolving uses, with a deck planned to connect to a future pool.
7m x 5m Contemporary Garden Annexe
Executive Garden Rooms created a 7m x 5m contemporary garden annexe tailored for one-person living. Their comprehensive service covers planning and construction, using reinforced concrete foundations and extensive glazing for light-filled interiors. The annexe includes a kitchen, double bedroom, and ensuite.
En-Suite Garden Bedroom
This en-suite garden bedroom by Annexe Spaces provides a functional, stylish extension alternative, featuring a low-maintenance Silicon K-Render finish. The design includes a spacious bedroom and shower room with new-build interiors, creating seamless indoor-outdoor living.
One Person Granny Annexe
Executive Garden Rooms designed a 6m x 4m one-person granny annexe, showcasing a compact yet functional home. It features a combined living/sleeping area, kitchen with instant hot water, and a spacious shower room. The sedum roof adds insulation and visual appeal.
Compact Granny Annexe
Executive Garden Rooms created a compact 21.5 square metre granny annexe for single occupancy. It includes an open-plan bedroom/lounge with a kitchenette and a well-equipped shower room. Clad in low-maintenance Cedral weatherboard, this turnkey project meets full planning and regulatory standards.
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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.
