Covering Durham
Durham is about 17 miles north of Darlington. We also cover Chester-le-Street (6 miles to the north), Houghton-le-Spring and Stanley.
Homes in the North East
In the North East, terraces, semis and bungalows all offer room to extend, with stone-built villages and conservation areas in parts of County Durham and Northumberland.
What is included in a garden annexe in Durham?
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 Durham?
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 |
Planning and building rules in Durham
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 I think about before starting?
- 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.
How does the project run?
- Tell us about the project. Call, use the guide price tool or send the form with a few photos and a postcode.
- Survey at your house. We look at the existing structure, services and access, and agree what the design needs to achieve.
- Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
- Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.
Questions about a garden annexe in Durham
Do I need planning permission for a garden annexe?
Usually yes, because people will sleep in it. Outbuilding permitted development does not cover living accommodation.
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.
Who deals with the council for a project in Durham?
We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.
Also covering
- Garden annexes in Chester-le-Street
- Garden annexes in Houghton-le-Spring
- Garden annexes in Stanley
- Garden annexes in Washington
Learn more about garden annexes, or see every project we cover in Durham.

