Granny flat side access: what to measure before a site visit
By Nua Living · How we prepare our guides
For a granny flat with side access, record the whole route from the street to the proposed garden position, rather than just the entrance gate. Bring a rough sketch, clear measurements and photographs to the site discussion. Ask the project team to assess the route before deciding that access works or rules the proposal out.
Start with the route, not a minimum-width promise
Nua Living garden homes use ICF, with a concrete core poured on site between permanent insulation layers. They are not delivered as a complete house. Discuss access for materials, equipment and people alongside the construction method; do not assume that an on-site build removes the need for an access assessment.
Avoid treating a single gate measurement as approval for the whole build. Ask which parts of the route need further checking and what information is needed for the proposed construction approach. This guide does not specify a minimum passage width or a particular pump, vehicle or lifting arrangement.
Make a simple access sketch
Draw the main house, side passage, gates, existing garden structures and the position you would like to discuss. Mark the intended route with an arrow. Record your measurements as preparation notes, and mark anything you have estimated or cannot safely measure.
| Part of the route | What to record | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Street entrance and gate | Clear opening between fixed obstructions; steps, gate posts and the direction the gate opens | Which entry point should the team assess? |
| Side passage | Narrow sections, projections, drainpipes and changes in width along the route | Which restrictions need a closer inspection? |
| Corners and turns | A sketch and photographs showing the approach, turn and space beyond it | How will the proposed method deal with each turn? |
| Levels and surfaces | Steps, slopes, drains, soft ground and surfaces you want protected | What preparation, protection and reinstatement should the quote address? |
| Overhead restrictions | Visible roofs, eaves, branches, cables and covered sections | Which restrictions require professional assessment before work? |
| Garden working area | Existing structures, the proposed home position and any areas you need kept accessible | Where should materials, working space and the finished access route be discussed? |
Use a tape measure only where you can do so safely. Do not climb onto roofs or approach cables to obtain a measurement. Keep uncertain details on the question list for the visit rather than presenting them as confirmed.
Take photographs that explain the restrictions
Take an overview from each end of the route, followed by closer views of the narrowest sections and turns. Label each photograph against the sketch so the team can follow the route. Avoid including people or private details that are not needed for the discussion, and keep photographs within the project enquiry rather than posting them publicly.
Ask before proposing the use of a shared or neighbouring route. Do not remove gates, walls, trees or other features simply to make the sketch look workable. Record the question and discuss the appropriate assessment and permissions first.
Check construction access and everyday access separately
Condition 11 of Class 3A requires independent pedestrian and/or wheelchair access to the detached house within the principal house's curtilage. See S.I. No. 340/2026, condition 11. That finished-access question is separate from deciding how the construction work will be carried out.
Discuss the route the future occupant will use, including gates, changes of level and movement around the proposed home. If mobility or care needs matter, describe them before settling on a layout and ask the designer to assess the actual requirements. Compare the concept floor plans as a discussion aid, not an individual accessibility assessment.
Access alone does not settle planning or scope
Conditions 16–18 require notification to the planning authority at least 14 days before work starts; the notification records use of the exemption and is not planning approval. S.I. No. 340/2026, Class 3A.
A Class 3A auxiliary dwelling follows the normal Building Control process, including a Commencement Notice, design and assigned certifiers, a competent builder and a Certificate of Compliance on Completion. Department Circular BC07-2026.
For a proposed Class 3A dwelling, address both the council notification and the Building Control submission. Read the full planning guide and pre-start paperwork guide; an access sketch does not establish that the site meets every condition.
Ask the written proposal to identify access preparation, property protection, service works, reinstatement and responsibility for unresolved site questions. Compare the granny-flat options alongside the separate project scope rather than choosing a home solely from a passage measurement.
Bring the sketch to the site discussion
Keep the sketch, labelled photographs, intended use and unresolved questions together. Bring any preferred concept layout and explain which parts of the garden need to remain in use. To discuss a Nua Living proposal, request a callback and free site visit. Ask us to review the actual route and explain the next assessment steps before committing to site work.
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