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Northern Log Cabins - Annexe Planning Permission - NAPC

Annexe Planning Permission - NAPC

Planning Permission and Our Partnership with NAPC: Your Guide to Building a Log Cabin Annexe

At Northern Log Cabins, we understand that building a log cabin annexe or garden room can be a life-changing project. Whether you’re creating a space for an elderly relative, a home office, or a creative studio, it’s essential to understand the planning permission process and how it applies to your project. That’s why we’ve partnered with the National Annexe Planning Consultancy (NAPC), experts in annexe planning, to make the process as smooth as possible.

 


Garden Rooms and Permitted Development

If you’re considering a garden room (e.g., a home office, gym, or art studio), you may not need planning permission, provided it’s incidental to the main house. However, it must comply with the following rules:

  • It cannot cover more than 50% of your garden.
  • It must be single-storey and no taller than 2.5 metres if within 2 metres of a boundary.
  • It cannot be located in front of the main house.

If your garden room includes sleeping accommodation or is considered a separate dwelling, you’ll need to apply for planning permission.

What is an Annexe?

An annexe is a self-contained living space built on the same property as your main home. It’s designed to provide independent accommodation for family members, such as elderly parents or adult children, while keeping them close to loved ones.

An annexe typically includes:

  • A bedroom
  • A bathroom
  • A living area
  • A kitchenette

These structures are often designed with accessibility in mind, featuring wider doorways, grab bars, and wheelchair ramps. They offer the perfect balance of independence and proximity, making them ideal for multi-generational living.

Do I Need Planning Permission for My Annexe?

The short answer is yes. If your log cabin includes sleeping accommodation, it’s no longer considered “incidental” (which falls under permitted development rights) but rather “ancillary.” This means it requires planning permission.

What Makes an Annexe Ancillary?

To be classified as ancillary, your annexe must:

  • Be smaller in scale than the main house.
  • Share the same address and utilities (water, sewage, etc.).
  • Be used by the same family as the main dwelling.
  • Be located within the residential curtilage of the main house.

If your annexe meets these criteria, it’s considered subordinate to the main house and can be approved through a householder planning application.

Can I Build an Annexe Under Permitted Development?

Permitted Development (PD) allows homeowners to build certain structures without full planning permission. However, there are strict limitations:

• The structure must be incidental to the main house (e.g., a garden room, gym, or art studio).
• It cannot include sleeping accommodation, as this makes it ancillary.
• It must comply with size, height, and location restrictions.

If your log cabin includes a bedroom, bathroom, or kitchenette, it will not qualify for permitted development and will require a full planning application.

How Do I Get Planning Permission for My Annexe?

There are two main routes to achieving planning permission for your annexe:

1. Planning Application for an Annexe

This involves submitting a detailed application to your Local Planning Authority (LPA). Our partners at NAPC will guide you through the process, ensuring your application is thorough, professional, and compliant with local planning policies.


2. Certificate of Lawfulness – Mobile Home

If obtaining planning permission proves challenging, you can explore the Caravan Act route. A structure that meets the definition of a mobile home under the Caravan Act does not require formal planning permission. However, we recommend applying for a certificate of lawfulness to confirm its legality.

Northern Log Cabins

Our Partnership with NAPC

At Northern Log Cabins, we’ve partnered with NAPC to provide expert planning support for your annexe project. Here’s how they can help:

  • Policy Review: NAPC will assess local planning policies and case law to support your application.
  • Application Preparation: They’ll present your case to the LPA in a clear, professional manner.
  • Ongoing Support: NAPC will monitor your application and negotiate with the LPA if challenges arise.

On average, planning applications take 10 weeks to process, but this can vary depending on your local council.

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