11.41 Residential annexes are a common form of development that is generally proposed in order to allow relatives to live with their family with a degree of independence. The benefits of this include:

• Allows family members to provide the care and support required
• Reduces the stress and impact on local services, ie nursing homes, home visits from care professionals etc.
• Cost effective and affordable solution to supported living
• Provides a measure of independence, while still being close to support
• Can provide accommodation for family members unable to purchase a house through the open market

In many cases, such proposals are considered to be acceptable by the Council.

11.42 However, such annexes would rarely be suited for occupation as separate living accommodation unrelated to the household occupying the main dwelling for a number of reasons including lack of self-containment, inadequate separate access, amenity space and lack of privacy.

11.43 Planning permission will therefore normally be subject to a condition to ensure that the occupation of the unit remains ancillary to the main dwelling.

Policy HO25 - Ancillary Accommodation for a Family Member

Proposals to provide an annexe for ancillary accommodation will permitted where the proposed annexe is:

• Within the curtilage of the principal dwelling and shares its vehicular access
• Has a functional connection with the main dwelling
• Is in the same ownership as the main dwelling
• Designed in such a way as to easily allow the annexe to be used as an integral part of the main dwelling when it is no longer needed for independent occupation
• Has no boundary demarcation or sub division of the land between the main dwelling and the annexe
• Of a scale subservient to the principal dwelling and complies with the Council's design policies