- Nation
- England
- National planning policy
- NPPF
- Planning authorities
- 1
- City
- Truro
How councils in Cornwall look at it
Beyond the build price, a few charges in Cornwall 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 Cornwall include Cornwall 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 Cornwall
Questions about build in your garden in Cornwall
Is your plot appraisal free for Cornwall 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.
Do you build new homes in gardens across the Cornwall area?
Yes. We offer garden design and build across Cornwall, from the first appraisal to handover. We’re a new brand within the S&K Group, so rather than pointing to past jobs we set out a clear process: a free appraisal, a measured survey and design, a planning application, and a written build quote once the plot’s real costs are known.
Do Cornwall planning rules allow new homes in back gardens?
There’s no blanket ban. National policy in England (the NPPF) and the local Local Plan set the tests: access, character, privacy, daylight, garden space, trees, parking and drainage. A home that respects the street and its neighbours has a fair hearing; one squeezed onto too small a plot is likely to struggle. Even a well-designed scheme depends on the council’s decision.
Do you buy garden plots in Cornwall?
Yes. We buy suitable garden plots across Cornwall directly, with or without planning permission, always subject to survey, title and contract. We also offer sales subject to planning, options, planning promotion and joint ventures. Which route fits depends on your plot, so the starting point is a free, no-obligation appraisal.