- Planning authority
- Amber Valley Borough Council
- Postcodes
- DE55
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 37°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.7 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Derbyshire
The local picture in Alfreton
Daylight is one of the first things Amber Valley Borough Council will test on a garden scheme, so we test it first too. At midday on 21 March the sun over Alfreton sits about 37° above the horizon, and a typical two-storey eaves line around 5 m high throws a shadow of roughly 6.7 m. In late December the noon sun reaches only about 13°, so winter shadows run roughly three times longer. Plotting both on the measured survey shows where a new home can stand without darkening the gardens and rooms around it.
The next steps, locally
Getting a straight answer about a garden plot in Alfreton costs nothing at the first stage. Send us a few photos and a rough idea of the plot, or call, and we’ll check it from the desk. If it’s not worth pursuing, we’ll say so and explain why. If it is, we’ll set out the next steps and their cost in writing.
Free plot appraisal
A desktop look at your plot, access, title plan and the planning picture, plus a conversation about what you want. If it looks viable we visit. There’s no cost and no obligation at this stage.
Scope and written quote
If you want to go further, we set out which surveys and checks your plot needs and what they will cost, in writing. Nothing is commissioned until you have agreed the scope and the price.
Access and capacity study
We test each workable route in and the number, size and position of homes the plot could hold, against separation distances, garden space, parking, bins and daylight for neighbours.
Concept designs and pre-application
Sketch layouts and simple elevations for the strongest options. Where it will help, we take one to the council for pre-application advice before anything is submitted.
Worth checking early
- A feasibility study can end in a no; finding that out early costs far less than a refused application.
- Some ecology surveys can only be done at certain times of year, which can affect the programme.
- A capacity figure is not a value; what a plot is worth depends on location, size, access and planning.
Questions about garden plots in Alfreton
Can you check the title deeds on my Alfreton property?
Yes. We obtain the title register and title plan from HM Land Registry and read them for restrictive covenants, rights of way, easements and any mortgage charge. If something needs a legal opinion, we flag it so your solicitor can advise. Title issues are far better found during feasibility than halfway through a planning application or a sale.
Is my Alfreton garden in a flood zone or conservation area?
Both are public information. Flood zones are shown on the flood maps for planning in England, and Amber Valley Borough Council publishes its conservation area boundaries and the listed buildings in its area. We check these as part of the free appraisal, along with Tree Preservation Orders, because each one changes what a scheme needs to show.
Can I get pre-application advice on a garden plot in Alfreton?
Usually, yes. Most councils offer pre-application advice, and many charge a fee for it. Amber Valley Borough Council’s website sets out its current arrangements, including how to apply, what to send and how long a response usually takes. We can prepare the information and attend any meeting for you. The advice isn’t binding, but it is a useful test before a full application.
How do I know if my garden in Alfreton is big enough for a house?
Size alone won’t tell you. What matters is whether there is a workable access, enough distance from neighbours’ windows, room for gardens, parking and bins for both homes, and nothing on the title or in policy that rules it out. A feasibility study checks each of those for your plot. The first stage, a free plot appraisal, gives you an early view.
Other options in Alfreton
- Sell part of your garden
- Planning permission for a garden plot
- Garage courts and yards
- Joint venture on your garden plot
- Planning promotion for your garden plot
- Build a new home in your garden