- Nation
- England
- National planning policy
- NPPF
- Planning authorities
- 7
- City
- Brighton
What to know in East Sussex
On garden plots in East Sussex, the drive usually matters more than the house. Councils want to see that cars can enter and leave safely, that there’s room to turn, and that headlights and engine noise won’t intrude on the homes either side. Building control adds its own test, because the design must allow for 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). Bin storage has to be within easy reach as well, so a narrow side passage that looks fine on a map can decide the whole scheme. We measure it before anything is drawn.
Planning authorities covering East Sussex include Brighton and Hove City Council, Eastbourne Borough Council, Hastings Borough Council, Lewes District Council, Rother District Council, Wealden District Council, South Downs National Park Authority.
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 East Sussex
Questions about build in your garden in East Sussex
Do East Sussex 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.
How is rainwater dealt with in East Sussex garden plots?
Rain from the new roof and drive must be managed on site, and for a new home that usually means a drainage plan the council will want to see. Soakaways, permeable paving, rain gardens or a controlled outflow are the usual options, depending on ground conditions and flood risk. We look at levels and soil at survey stage so the drainage design fits the plot.
What does a garden design and build cost in the East Sussex 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.
Do I need my own solicitor to sell a plot in East Sussex?
Yes, always. Your solicitor checks the contract, deals with the transfer of part at HM Land Registry and asks your mortgage lender to release the plot if the house is mortgaged. On option and promotion agreements we cover your reasonable legal fees, with the cap agreed in heads of terms before work starts.