Granny Flat Provision

[TheOnlineAgent]

Hi Somersofters

Just curious about getting approval for a granny flat. The property already has a self contained room on top of the garage (separate to the main dwelling). It is a studio sub 40m2. It has kitchen and bathroom facilities but it is in really bad condition and is just used for storage.

Can you get 10 day approval if you wanted to build a detached granny flat at the back of the block or is the studio on top of the garage considered a granny flat and therefore means you can't get approval as you don't meet the requirements.

Any help would be awesome. If you don't know the answer any referrals would be great.

Based in NSW

 

[DaveM]

If the studio was never approved before then the garage and store room/old flat will likely be a class 10A structure so adding another seperate granny flat should be OK. Just remove the kitchen from the old one so there is no ambiguity.

Message Brazen from the forums for the full details on conversion.

 

[brazen]

If the studio was never approved before then the garage and store room/old flat will likely be a class 10A structure so adding another seperate granny flat should be OK. Just remove the kitchen from the old one so there is no ambiguity.

Message Brazen from the forums for the full details on conversion.

Hi Guys,

A stuidio wont have a kitchen anyway, at least not legally. I mean studios can't have a hard-wired stove for example.But...

If you already have a studio above a garage and want to also build a new granny flat, nothing stops you gaining approval for a granny flat; they're 2 totally separate creatures.

If you want to convert the existing studio into a granny flat, this is possible under the SEPP as well. It just needs to have been previously approved for 'habitable purposes' otherwise it probably won't meet the height vs setback requirements.

To elaborate, Planning NSW allows an existing habitable space to be converted without needing to meet the prescriptions for landscaping, setbacks and heights (to 8.5 m above natural ground level).

You must also meet the Building Code (BCA) requirements, specifically a fire-rated-wall may be needed, smoke alarm hard-wired to electrical system, BASIX Energy Efficiency requirements, structural adequacy (Certifiable by an Engineer), minimum ventilation + lighting and minimum room heights etc.