A residential annex is a term used to define accommodation ancillary to the main dwelling and within the same shared residential curtilage. The creation of an annexe is a common form of development, generally proposed in order to allow relatives to live with their family with a degree of independence. When drawing up plans for a residential annexe, caution needs to be taken to ensure that any new accommodation does not result in a proposal which effectively creates a new dwelling, which could be in an inappropriate location and represent unsustainable development.
Criteria for Assessing Proposals
In order to ease the application process and improve chances of success, annexe proposals should bare in mind the following assessment criteria:
- Physical relationship -
- Does the annex use part of the existing dwelling.
- Is the annex attached to the existing dwelling.
- If the annex is physically detached, is there potential for subdivision of the curtilage and creation of two plots.
- Subservient in scale and appropriately designed - does the annex react to its architectural and landscape context.
- Can the proposed accommodation be justified. Number of beds being provided. One or maximum two beds justified in a particular case e.g. if 24 hour care is required.
- Is there a functional relationship.
- Who will be using the annexe.
- Is there a family connection or are they part of the same household
- Does the annexe share services (water gas, electric, sewage disposal etc).