- Nation
- England
- National planning policy
- NPPF
- Planning authorities
- 5
- City
- Oxford
What to know in Oxfordshire
Under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), councils weigh the character of an area and the effect on neighbours when deciding whether a home can go in a garden, and the council’s Local Plan usually adds local detail. For a family home in Oxfordshire, that means the design has to suit its surroundings as well as the relative moving in. Single-storey buildings, careful window placement and boundary planting often help. Many councils use separation distances of around 21 metres between facing back windows, but your council’s own guide decides.
Planning authorities covering Oxfordshire include Cherwell District Council, Oxford City Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council.
How it works
Free plot appraisal
We look at your plot, access and the planning picture from the desk, talk through who will live in the new home, and visit if it looks viable. There’s no cost and no obligation.
Annexe or separate home
We set out both routes for your plot, covering what each means for planning, ownership, council tax, CIL and VAT, so you can decide with your family and advisers before design starts.
Survey and design
A measured survey, then a design built around the person moving in: step-free routes, a ground-floor bedroom if needed and privacy for both households. You get a written quote after design and survey.
Planning and approvals
We prepare and submit the planning application and manage it with the council, which makes the decision. Before work starts, approval under the Building Regulations is in place and any CIL exemption has been claimed.
Build and handover
We build while you carry on living next door, with access, deliveries and working hours agreed up front. At handover you get the completion certificate and the paperwork you’ll need for council tax, lenders and any VAT claim.
Family home in your garden in towns across Oxfordshire
Questions about family home in your garden in Oxfordshire
Is CIL charged on family homes in Oxfordshire?
Some councils charge the Community Infrastructure Levy and some don’t, so it depends where your house is. Where it applies, a self-build exemption and an exemption for residential annexes are available, but they must be claimed before work starts on site, together with a commencement notice. We check the position for your address during the free appraisal.
How long does planning take for an annexe in Oxfordshire?
Usually a few months from a valid application, though it varies between councils and with how many changes are needed. Applications that draw objections or need extra reports take longer. Pre-application advice adds time at the start but often saves it later by flagging problems before you apply.
Do you build family homes across all of Oxfordshire?
Yes, we cover garden plots throughout Oxfordshire, including in and around Oxford, Banbury, Abingdon and Bicester. Every enquiry starts with a free desktop appraisal of the plot and the planning context, and we arrange a site visit if the scheme looks viable. Design, planning and build follow only if you decide to go ahead.
Which national rules apply to a new home in Oxfordshire?
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.