Oak Framed Annexes

Types of Oak Framed Annexe We Build

Granny Annexes

A granny annexe provides independent living space for elderly parents or family members, right on your doorstep. Our oak framed granny annexes are designed with accessibility in mind — single-storey layouts, wide doorways, level thresholds, and wet rooms can all be incorporated. Every granny annexe we build is a self-contained home with its own kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and living area, giving your family members the independence they want with the proximity you need.

Granny annexes are among our most popular projects. With an ageing population and rising care costs, more families are choosing to keep relatives close rather than looking at residential care. An oak framed granny annexe adds genuine value to your property while offering a far more dignified and cost-effective solution than care home fees.

Garden Annexes

A garden annexe sits as a standalone building within your grounds. These are ideal when you want a completely separate structure that doesn’t alter the footprint of your main house. Our oak framed garden annexes work beautifully as guest accommodation, holiday lets, or additional family living space.

Because a garden annexe is detached, it offers more flexibility in terms of positioning and design. We can work with sloping sites, gardens with mature trees, and plots where an extension wouldn’t be practical.

Annexes Above Garages

One of the most efficient ways to add living space is by building an annexe above a new or existing oak framed garage. This approach makes the most of your footprint — you get secure vehicle storage on the ground floor and a fully self-contained living space above.

Our garage with room above designs are among our most requested projects. They work particularly well as rental accommodation, home offices with overnight capability, or teenage dens with a degree of independence.

Attached Annexes

An attached annexe connects to your main house, often through a glazed link or covered walkway. This provides the best of both worlds — a separate living space that’s still physically connected to the family home. Attached annexes are particularly popular for elderly relatives who want independence but the reassurance of being close.

Oak Annexe Design Ideas & Layouts

Every annexe we build is individually designed to suit your site, your needs, and your budget. Here are some of the most popular layouts and design approaches our clients choose:

One-Bedroom Annexe (approx. 40–55 m²)

The most popular layout for a granny annexe. Typically includes an open-plan kitchen and living area, a double bedroom, a bathroom (or wet room), and a small utility or storage space. This size comfortably meets the needs of a single person or couple and usually falls within permitted development size limits.

Two-Bedroom Annexe (approx. 55–80 m²)

A larger layout that works well for guest accommodation or holiday let use. The second bedroom provides flexibility for visiting grandchildren, carers, or rental guests. At this size, you can incorporate a separate kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and a family bathroom.

Studio Annexe (approx. 25–35 m²)

A compact open-plan space combining a sleeping area, kitchenette, and en-suite shower room. Ideal for short-stay guests or as a combined studio and accommodation space. Despite the smaller footprint, an oak frame with vaulted ceilings makes these feel remarkably spacious.

Design Features

All our oak annexes can incorporate:

• Vaulted ceilings with exposed oak beams and trusses
• Full-height glazing and bi-fold or sliding doors
• Oak framed porches or covered verandas
• Juliet balconies (for annexes above garages)
• Underfloor heating and modern insulation using Kingspan TEK panels
• Traditional or contemporary external finishes (oak weatherboarding, render, brick, or a combination)

How Much Does an Oak Framed Annexe Cost?

Oak framed annexe costs depend on size, specification, and how much of the build you commission us to handle. Below are indicative price ranges for 2025/2026:

What’s Included at Each Level

Frame only: The oak frame structure — posts, beams, trusses, and roof plate. Delivered to site and erected by our team. You arrange the rest of the build.

Frame + enclosure: The oak frame plus external walls (typically Kingspan TEK SIPs panels), roof covering, windows, and external doors. The building is weathertight and ready for internal fit-out.

Turnkey: Everything from foundations to finishing. Includes all internal works — electrics, plumbing, heating, flooring, kitchen, bathroom, and decoration. You move furniture in; we handle everything else.

What Affects the Price?

• Size and layout — more rooms, more walls, more cost
• Specification level — standard kitchen and bathroom vs high-end fittings
• Foundations — ground conditions affect foundation costs
• Services — running electrics, water, and drainage to a detached annexe adds cost
• Site access — restricted access can increase labour and delivery costs
• Planning requirements — some sites need additional design work to satisfy local planners

For an accurate quote, contact us with details of what you’re looking for. We’ll visit your site, discuss your requirements, and provide a detailed written quotation at no cost.

Do You Need Planning Permission for an Annexe?

Planning permission for annexes depends on several factors. Here’s what you need to know:

When You Might NOT Need Planning Permission

Some annexes fall under permitted development rights, meaning you can build without a full planning application. To qualify, the annexe generally must:

• Be ancillary to (used in connection with) the main dwelling — not a separate household
• Not exceed 50% of the total area of land around the original house
• Be single storey with a maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres
• Not be forward of the principal elevation
• Meet maximum height limits (4 metres for a dual-pitch roof, 3 metres otherwise)
• Not be in a conservation area, AONB, or listed building curtilage (where tighter rules apply)

When You WILL Need Planning Permission

Full planning permission is typically required when:

• The annexe will be a self-contained dwelling (its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom)
• The building exceeds permitted development size limits
• You’re in a conservation area, National Park, or AONB
• You plan to use the annexe as a holiday let or rental property
• The annexe is above a garage or has more than one storey

How We Help

We handle planning applications for annexe projects regularly. Our planning applications service covers:

• Pre-application advice to test the waters with your local authority
• Full planning drawings and supporting documents
• Design and access statements
• Heritage and ecology assessments where required
• Liaison with planning officers throughout the process

Most standard annexe applications take 8–12 weeks for a decision. We’ll manage the entire process for you.

Building Regulations

All habitable annexes must comply with building regulations, regardless of whether planning permission is needed. This covers structural integrity, fire safety, thermal performance (insulation), ventilation, electrical safety, and drainage. Our annexes are designed to meet or exceed current building regulations as standard.

Annexe vs Garden Room vs Extension — Which Is Right for You?

If you’re unsure which option suits your situation best, we can discuss all three approaches. Many clients come to us thinking they want an extension and realise an annexe or garden room actually suits them better — or vice versa. We’ll help you work through the options based on your site, your needs, and your budget.

See also: Oak Framed Extensions | Oak Framed Garden Rooms

How We Build Your Oak Framed Annexe

1. Initial Consultation

We visit your site, discuss your requirements, and assess the practicalities — access, services, ground conditions, and planning context. There’s no charge for this initial visit.

2. Design

Our bespoke design team creates detailed plans tailored to your site and lifestyle. We’ll work through layouts, materials, and finishes until the design is exactly right.

3. Planning & Building Regulations

We prepare and submit your planning application (where required) and handle all building regulations submissions. We manage correspondence with the local authority throughout.

4. Oak Frame Manufacture

Your oak frame is hand-crafted in our workshop using traditional mortise and tenon joinery. Each joint is individually cut and test-assembled before delivery.

5. Site Preparation & Foundations

Groundworks and foundations are prepared while your frame is being manufactured, keeping the build timeline efficient.

6. Frame Raising

The oak frame is delivered and erected on site — typically completed in two to three days depending on the size of the annexe.

7. Enclosure

The frame is enclosed using Kingspan TEK panels (structural insulated panels), providing exceptional thermal performance and airtightness in a single operation.

8. Internal Fit-Out & Completion

All internal works are completed — electrics, plumbing, underfloor heating, kitchen, bathroom, flooring, and decoration. We handle every detail through to handover.

Typical timeline: 16–24 weeks from planning approval to completion, depending on size and specification.

Why Choose an Oak Frame for Your Annexe?

Built to last centuries. Oak framed buildings have stood in Britain for over 500 years. Your annexe isn’t a temporary structure — it’s a permanent addition to your property that will outlast you and likely several generations after.

Warmth and character. Exposed oak beams, vaulted ceilings, and the natural honey tones of fresh-cut green oak create spaces with warmth and character that no other building material can match.

Thermally efficient. Combined with Kingspan TEK panels, our oak framed annexes achieve U-values well below the minimum required by current building regulations. Lower energy bills, greater comfort.

Sustainable. Oak is a naturally renewable material. Our timber is responsibly sourced, and the manufacturing process generates far less embodied carbon than steel, concrete, or brick construction.

Adds genuine value. A well-designed oak framed annexe is one of the strongest value-adding improvements you can make to a property — regularly adding 10–20% to the overall property value.

Learn more: Why Choose Oak