Garden Plots and Backland Development in Kent

Nation: England
Planning authorities: 13
Towns we cover: 25
City: Canterbury

Sell, partner or build in Kent

Selling and building aren’t the only choices; you can also sit somewhere in between. A joint venture lets you put in the land while, in the usual structure, we fund and manage design, planning and the build, with you sharing in the outcome, for example through a share of the sale proceeds or a new home back. Owners in Kent who want less involvement can sell outright, and those who want more can keep the land and have us build for them.

Sell or partner

Design and build

By plot type

The planning picture in Kent

A strong planning application in Kent usually begins before anything is submitted. Many councils offer pre-application advice, often for a fee, which gives early feedback on a design and flags problems while they’re still cheap to fix. Small schemes are then usually decided by planning officers under delegated powers, and national and council rules set out when, if ever, one goes to a planning committee instead. The councils covering Kent all work within their own Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Our job is a careful, well-evidenced application; the decision is theirs.

Planning authorities: Ashford Borough Council, Canterbury City Council, Dartford Borough Council, Dover District Council, Folkestone and Hythe District Council, Gravesham Borough Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Medway Council, Sevenoaks District Council, Swale Borough Council, Thanet District Council, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Towns in Kent

Questions about garden plots in Kent

Which national rules apply to a new home in Kent?

Garden schemes here sit under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), with the local detail coming from the council’s Local Plan. New homes must also meet the Building Regulations. That affects things such as fire engine access (or other measures, often sprinklers, agreed with building control and the fire service where a fire engine can’t get close enough). On drainage you’ll usually need a drainage plan the council will want to see, and land purchases fall under Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). We check which rules apply to your plot as part of the free appraisal.

Can neighbours in Kent combine their gardens?

Yes. Putting two or more adjoining back gardens together can allow one shared access and a better layout than separate plots. Each owner keeps their house. The owners usually sign a collaboration agreement, with an equalisation clause so that value is shared fairly even though only one garden provides the access. Each household should take its own legal advice.

How long does planning take for a garden plot in Kent?

The council usually has eight weeks from validation to decide a small application, though extensions are often agreed, and the whole process takes longer. Surveys, design work, pre-application advice and amendments all add time, and some ecology surveys can only be done at certain times of year. We’ll give you a realistic timetable for your plot rather than a promise.

How much is a garden plot in Kent worth?

It depends on location, size, access, title and, above all, planning. Two similar gardens in the same street can be worth very different amounts if one has easy access and the other doesn’t. We don’t quote figures before we’ve looked at a plot properly; the free appraisal is the way to find out.

Backland development in Kent