- Nation
- England
- National planning policy
- NPPF
- Planning authorities
- 6
- City
- Cambridge
Cambridgeshire: the planning picture
Beyond the build price, a few charges in Cambridgeshire depend on the council. Community Infrastructure Levy is only payable where an authority has adopted a charging schedule, and anyone hoping for the self-build exemption has to apply before construction begins. Ecology can add requirements too, because biodiversity net gain rules may call for new hedges, trees or wildlife features. Planning and building control fees, the structural warranty and utility connections sit on top. We list each one separately so the written quote shows exactly where the money goes.
Planning authorities covering Cambridgeshire include Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Peterborough City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council.
How it works
Free plot appraisal
We check the title plan, access, constraints and planning policy from our desk, talk the plot through with you, and visit if it looks viable. There’s no cost and no obligation.
Survey and design
A measured survey records levels, boundaries, trees and neighbouring windows. We then design a layout and house that suit the plot, the street and your budget, and decide whether pre-application advice is worth seeking.
Planning and approvals
We submit the planning application and manage it to a decision, then deal with conditions, Building Regulations approval, the structural warranty, any build-over agreement and the new utility connections.
Written quote and build
Once design and survey are complete you get a written quote. The build runs in stages — access and groundworks, foundations, frame and roof, fit-out and external works — with inspections at each key point.
Handover
You receive the completion certificate, warranty documents, Energy Performance Certificate, manuals and utility details, so the new home is ready to move into, let or put on the market.
Build in your garden in towns across Cambridgeshire
Questions about build in your garden in Cambridgeshire
Is your plot appraisal free for Cambridgeshire homeowners?
Yes, and there’s no obligation. It begins with a review of your title, access, constraints and the relevant policies, followed by a conversation about what you want from the land. If the plot looks viable we arrange a site visit, and you then decide whether to move on to survey and design.
What does a garden design and build cost in the Cambridgeshire area?
There’s no standard figure, because cost depends on access, foundations, services, specification and size rather than on the county. Guide price ranges are on our prices page and are guides only. You receive a written quote after design and survey, with fees, warranty, connections and any Community Infrastructure Levy listed separately.
Who decides garden house applications in the Cambridgeshire area?
Applications in Cambridgeshire are decided by the local planning authority for the address (authorities here include Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Peterborough City Council and other councils), using its Local Plan alongside the NPPF. Design guidance, validation lists and pre-application services can differ from one authority to another. We confirm the right one for your address during the free appraisal and prepare the application to its requirements.
Can neighbours in Cambridgeshire 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.