Covering Cambridge
Alongside Cambridge, we also cover Huntingdon, Haverhill (16 miles to the south-east) and St Neots.
Homes in the East of England
The East of England has a large stock of post-war and modern estate housing alongside period homes in market towns, which makes garage conversions, single-storey extensions and loft conversions popular.
What goes into a garden annexe?
A garden annexe is a separate single-storey building in the grounds of a house with its own bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette, used by family members as part of the main household. Unlike a garden office, an annexe that people sleep in normally needs planning permission and full building regulations approval.
- Design and planning application
- Foundations and drainage connections
- Accessible design options for older relatives
What is the guide price for a garden annexe in Cambridge?
What garden annexes typically cost. These are guide ranges; the written quote for your house replaces them.
| Garden annexes | Guide price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Standard specification | £2,400 to £2,900 per m² |
| Good specification | £2,900 to £3,400 per m² |
| High specification | £3,400 to £3,900 per m² |
How is a garden annexe approved in Cambridge?
In England we deal with the council’s planning team for permission or a lawful development certificate, with building control (the council or a registered building control approver) for inspections, and with neighbours under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 where it applies.
A self-contained annexe used for sleeping and living normally needs planning permission in England.
What should Cambridge homeowners check first?
- The annexe normally has to remain part of the main household, not let as a separate home.
- Drainage may need a pump if the garden falls away from the sewer.
What are the steps?
- Tell us about the project. Call, use the guide price tool or send the form with a few photos and a postcode.
- Free site visit. We measure up, look at access, drains and the structure, and talk through options and budget.
- Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
- Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.
Garden annexes: common questions
Can I rent the annexe out?
Usually not without a separate planning permission, because councils normally require it to stay part of the main house.
Can you make it wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Level access, wider doors and a level-access shower can be designed in from the start.
How do I get a price for garden annexes in Cambridge?
Use the guide price tool for a ballpark figure, then book a visit for a fixed written price for the agreed specification.
Garden annexes in nearby towns
- Garden annexes in Huntingdon
- Garden annexes in Haverhill
- Garden annexes in St Neots
- Garden annexes in Letchworth Garden City
Learn more about garden annexes, or see every project we cover in Cambridge.

