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Caravan Act, PD & Full Planning Explained

Granny Annexe Planning Permission in
Totnes

Not every annexe in Totnes follows the same planning route. A mobile, two-section structure within strict size limits can qualify under the Caravan Sites Act, while a permanent, self-contained living space with its own bedroom and kitchen almost always needs full planning permission. We work out which one your Totnes project actually is.

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Local to Totnes
Three Routes Explained
Council-Ready Applications

The Totnes Granny Annexe Planning Position

The planning position for a Totnes annexe comes down to two questions, is it genuinely mobile within the Caravan Act’s size limits, and is it genuinely ancillary to the house rather than a separate, independent dwelling.

A structure meeting the caravan definition, movable by road, built in no more than two sections, within 20 metres by 6.8 metres by 3.05 metres internal height, can often be sited in a Totnes garden without full planning permission, provided it stays ancillary.

Where a Totnes annexe is permanently fixed, or genuinely self-contained with its own facilities used independently, the caravan and permitted development routes generally don’t apply, and a full application becomes the realistic path. A Totnes annexe needing full planning permission usually needs both, our Building Regulations drawings in Totnes service covers the technical compliance side, and our structural calculations in Totnes service covers the engineering detail.

Right Route Confirmed

Caravan Act, permitted development, or full planning

Caravan Act Route

Movable structures that may need no permission at all

PD Size & Siting

Permitted development limits checked properly

Council-Ready

Applications built to be approved

Granny annexe planning permission

How We Help in Totnes

Every Totnes annexe enquiry starts with the same honest question, mobile caravan, incidental outbuilding, or genuine separate dwelling, since the answer determines everything that follows.

From there, we confirm the correct route for your Totnes project and prepare exactly what’s needed, a Lawful Development Certificate or a full planning application.

Structural detail and building regulations compliance for Totnes annexes are handled properly throughout, not bolted on at the end.

Honest Annexe Advice For Totnes

Honesty about what your Totnes annexe actually needs comes before any recommendation, not after we’ve quoted for the more expensive route.

We understand the genuine legal distinction between incidental and self-contained use for Totnes annexe projects, which is exactly what most generic guidance gets wrong.

A Lawful Development Certificate, where your Totnes annexe genuinely qualifies for it, gives you written confirmation rather than a risky assumption. If you need help with a granny annexe, give us a call on 0330 133 5316 or fill in the form below.

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Common Annexe Planning Questions in Totnes

What determines if my Totnes annexe needs planning permission?

This genuinely depends on your specific plans for Totnes, we check whether the structure is mobile, incidental, or self-contained before advising either way.

What size limits apply to a caravan-style annexe in Totnes?

The Caravan Sites Act 1968 sets the limits, 20 metres long, 6.8 metres wide, 3.05 metres internal height, and the structure must be moveable by road in one or two sections, we check whether your Totnes plans genuinely meet this.

What outbuilding rules apply to a Totnes annexe?

It depends on genuine use, an incidental Totnes outbuilding can qualify under Class E, but introducing real sleeping accommodation used independently takes it outside permitted development regardless of size.

What makes an annexe a separate dwelling in Totnes?

Genuine independence is the test in Totnes, if the annexe could function as a separate home on its own, full planning permission is almost always the realistic route.

Is a Lawful Development Certificate worth it in Totnes?

Strongly recommended for Totnes annexes, an assumption that a structure qualifies isn’t the same as formal confirmation, and a Lawful Development Certificate closes that gap.

Can you manage everything for my Totnes annexe project?

Yes, we coordinate every part of a Totnes annexe project, from establishing the correct route through to building regulations sign-off, so nothing falls through the gap.