Understanding the full garden annex specification upfront means knowing exactly what you’re getting before work begins. Every annex from us includes ground screw foundations, a full kitchen and bathroom fitted as standard, and a 10-year manufacturer’s guarantee. Annexes start from £60,000 inc VAT, and every project is bespoke, designed around the individual plot, family and intended use, but these core elements are included from the outset rather than offered as upgrades.

We manage planning on your behalf for most projects, confirmed separately through our £1,500 inc VAT planning package, though it isn’t compulsory and some homeowners choose to self-manage. This guide sets out exactly what’s included, and what sits outside the standard build.

What foundations are included as standard?

Every annex we build sits on ground screw foundations rather than a large concrete slab. Ground screws are engineered steel piles, mechanically screwed into the ground to create a strong, stable base, and they are used as standard across every project regardless of size or layout.

The reasoning is practical as much as it is structural. Ground screws require far less excavation than traditional concrete foundations, which means significantly less disruption to an existing garden. They also allow us to accommodate a wider range of site conditions, including sloping or uneven plots, while still achieving a level, finished floor height.

This is included in every build as standard, not offered as an upgrade or alternative option. Our guide to garden annex groundworks and foundations covers exactly what the process involves and what to expect on site.

What’s included in the kitchen specification?

A full kitchen is fitted as standard in every annex we build, rather than treated as an optional extra to add later. Because every project is designed individually, the exact specification is confirmed as part of the design process, giving homeowners a clear picture of what’s included before work begins.

What’s included in the bathroom specification?

Alongside the kitchen, a full bathroom is included as standard in every annex, fitted from the outset rather than added as an upgrade.

Wet rooms are available as part of our standard specification, and doorways throughout the annex are built to 850mm as standard, a specification we apply across every build rather than only where accessibility is the primary reason for the annex. For families planning specifically around changing mobility needs, or designing for a family member who uses a wheelchair, our guide to wheelchair accessible garden annex design covers this in more detail.

As with the kitchen, the exact bathroom specification is confirmed as part of the design process, so it reflects the needs of the people who will be living in the annex.

Is planning included in our garden annex specification?

We manage planning for the vast majority of our projects, though it is not compulsory. Homeowners are free to handle their own planning application if they prefer, and the annex build itself is never conditional on using our planning package.

Our planning package is £1,500 inc VAT and covers the full process end to end, including architectural drawings, the relevant application or applications, and ongoing contact with the local council. Given the specialist nature of preparing accurate drawings and managing an application correctly, most homeowners choose to have us handle this rather than take it on themselves. Our guide to planning permission for garden annexes explains how this works in more detail, including the different routes a project might take depending on the type of structure being built.

Handling planning as a fixed, transparent package means homeowners know what this element of the project will cost well before a site visit takes place, even though it is confirmed separately from the annex specification itself.

What does the 10-year guarantee cover?

Every annex we build comes with a 10-year manufacturer’s guarantee as standard, giving homeowners long-term reassurance on the structure itself.

For a purchase of this scale, that kind of reassurance matters. It reflects confidence in the build quality and the materials used, and it means homeowners are not left carrying that risk alone once the project is complete. The guarantee applies across our full annex range, regardless of size or layout, and forms part of what we consider the genuine core offering rather than something added at extra cost.

What does the bespoke design service include?

Every annex we build is designed individually around the specific plot, the family who will use it, and how the space needs to work day to day.

This is not an off-the-shelf product. Room sizes, layout, window positioning and finish are all considered as part of the design process, shaped by the realities of the garden itself and the people who will be living there. A family in Guildford designing space for an elderly parent will have very different priorities to a family in Brighton or Hove creating independent accommodation for an adult child, and the design process reflects that from the earliest stage.

Homeowners across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Hampshire, including in Lewes, Tunbridge Wells, Winchester and Petersfield, work with us through this process before any drawings are finalised, so the finished specification genuinely fits the property and the family using it.

What isn’t included in our garden annex specification?

While the core specification covers everything needed for comfortable day-to-day living, a small number of elements sit outside the standard build and are confirmed separately depending on the project.

Groundworks are site-dependent, and always priced separately from the annex build. We arrange a full professional survey to confirm the exact requirements, including drainage routes and ground conditions, as part of the quote following a site visit. Post-build landscaping, such as reinstating a lawn or adding new planting around the annex, is not included as standard and is very much down to individual preference. Any optional upgrades beyond the standard specification, such as a higher-tier kitchen or bathroom finish, are discussed and priced individually as part of the design process, and many homeowners choose to do this.

We are always clear about what sits within the standard specification and what falls outside it, so there is nothing left unclear once a project begins.

If you have any questions about what would be included in your own project before getting in touch, our team is always happy to talk through the detail. You can contact us directly, or read on for answers to some of the questions we hear most often.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Discuss Your Garden Annex Specification?

Every project starts with understanding what the space needs to do for the family who will be living in it. If you would like to talk through what would be included in your own annex, get in touch for an initial conversation. It is always free, honest and without obligation.

If you would like to see how the standard specification has come together for other families across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Hampshire, take a look at our customer stories.