Garden annexes in Suffolk

Covering Suffolk

We cover Suffolk, including Ipswich, Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill, and the towns around them.

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 do you get with 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
Brick, block or timber-frame structure
Accessible design options for older relatives

What will a garden annexe cost?

Guide prices for garden annexes, including VAT where it applies. Your fixed price is confirmed in writing after the survey.

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

Do you need permission for a garden annexe in Suffolk?

Projects in England go through two separate checks. Planning (or confirmation that the work is permitted development) comes from the district, borough or unitary council, and building regulations approval comes from the council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Where work touches a shared wall or digs near a neighbour’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies.

A self-contained annexe used for sleeping and living normally needs planning permission in England.

What should I think about before starting?

Drainage may need a pump if the garden falls away from the sewer.
A level threshold and wider doors make the annexe suitable for later life.

From first call to completion

Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
Price and paperwork. The design is priced line by line, and we submit the planning and building control applications.
Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.

What people ask before starting

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.

How much does a garden annexe cost?

Around £2,400 to £3,900 per square metre including VAT, depending on finish and services.

How do I get a price for garden annexes in Suffolk?

Use the guide price tool for a ballpark figure, then book a visit for a fixed written price for the agreed specification.

Also covering

Learn more about garden annexes, or see every project we cover in Suffolk.