Annexe planning permission can be difficult if you don’t put the right procedures in place or follow a structured direction in obtaining it. It isn’t the case of simply filling in a form and hoping for the best.
Getting planning permission on your annexe build needs careful consideration, a good knowledge of the field and a proactive approach to making it a success.
Professional Builder ran a piece on the hardest and easiest places to get planning permission in England.
Based on the percentage of cases where planning permission was granted, the following hotspots came out on top for being the hardest on record:
- Enfield, London (65.13%)
- Hillingdon, London (66.01%)
- Harrow, London (69.56%)
- Hounslow, London (71.24%)
- Greenwich, London (71.47%)
- Lambeth, London (73.55%)
- Rochdale, Greater Manchester (74.03%)
- Southend-on-Sea, Essex (74.46%)
- Newham, London (76.02%)
- Bromley, London (76.82%)
iHUS bucks the Annexe Planning Permission trend
In four of the areas mentioned in the hardest places list – iHUS has obtained 100% planning permission success on the projects it has sought permissions for, these are Greenwich, Lambeth, Southend on Sea and Bromley.
Working with iHUS on these builds means our customers had one less thing to worry about as, thanks to our team of experts, we were able to complete the planning permission process without any issues that would affect the build.
A simple journey is what makes iHUS so successful and why our customers choose to let us help.
What are the stages of planning
The exact detail of each step can vary from one planning authority to another in the detail, but as a whole the following steps will be taken when it comes to considering your annexe planning permission:
- Application and validation – where you fill in the required details to submit to your planning authority. This will include all the information on the proposed build including its dimensions, the number of rooms and its main use.
- Consultation and publicity – where the details are shared in your local area and to those neighbours that may be affected by the new build. This will give information about the proposal so everybody that it has the potential to affect is clear on the plans.
- Site visit and assessment – where a planning officer can visit the site to review plans and see the site in question. Photos may be taken for evidence on the planning application file.
- Recommendation and permission – here the officer involved in each case will give a recommendation to the board based on all evidence given. Once advised, the planning authority will give its decision based on the recommendation.
Always by your side throughout your Annexe experience, iHUS offers a Pre-Check of your application before the first step in the planning permission process.
This is vital as it means we can highlight and advise on any issues we feel may be raised as you apply. Issues may come in a few forms – the most common we see are the sizes involved and if your property is in a conservation area.
Listed Buildings Can Still Home an Annexe
Even though gaining planning permission for your annexe may be more difficult – being a listed building does not necessarily mean it can’t happen. Take the Annexe we built for the Aldridge Family as an example.
This bespoke model annexe in Cirencester utised green oak cladding and Cotswold stone tiles to meet strict planning criteria. Our knowledge and working with the planning authority in the area meant we were able to meet the required needs for the build.
The Aldridge family were delighted:
“iHUS dealt with the complicated planning application which needed listed building consent with seamless efficiency. The timescale for completion of the new build appeared impossible to our untrained mind but not only did they keep to it, they dealt with all the many alterations both major and minor with efficiency”
Best Practices to Follow for a Positive Annexe Planning Permission Result
While intricacies vary from one planning authority to another, at iHUS we believe there are three common steps to follow to get the result you want when seeking planning permission:
- Get the designs right – understand the dimensions that will work for your property. Don’t overstate yet at the same time, ensure you are creating the right build for you and your family.
- Understand policies – knowing which policies will affect your specific build is vital to making the application as smooth as possible. Ensuring you can provide evidence to answer them is very important.
- Hire a professional – make sure the team responsible for gaining your planning permission has the experience and the know-how to give you the best possible chance of success.
Trust in iHUS for your Annexe Planning Permission
At iHUS we have the experts available to help you gain the planning permission you need for your annexe build. We have an excellent success rate in gaining planning permission, particularly in areas that may be considered difficult.
Speak to a member of our team to see how we can help get your granny annexe ideas off the ground and into reality.
