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- National planning policy
- NPPF
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- Morpeth
What to know in Northumberland
Neighbouring gardens in Northumberland sometimes make a stronger scheme together than apart. One plot may have a drive but little depth; the next may have depth but no way in. A feasibility study can test a combined layout with one shared access, as well as each garden on its own, so the owners can compare the outcomes before anyone agrees anything. Where several owners are involved, a collaboration agreement usually comes next.
Planning authorities covering Northumberland include Northumberland County Council.
How it works
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.
Survey and constraints check
A measured survey of the plot and its surroundings, then a check of the title, services, trees, flood risk and heritage designations, so the design starts from facts rather than guesses.
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.
Feasibility report and options
A clear yes, no or maybe, the reasons behind it, and the routes open to you: apply for planning, build, sell or partner. You decide what happens next, with no obligation to use us for it.
Feasibility and design in towns across Northumberland
Questions about feasibility and design in Northumberland
Is pre-application advice available in Northumberland?
Most councils offer it, usually for a fee, and publish their arrangements online. It gives you a planning officer’s written view on the principle and design of a scheme before you apply. It isn’t binding, but on a finely balanced garden plot it often shows what the council will focus on.
Which councils decide garden schemes in Northumberland?
The local planning authority for your address decides. In this area that includes Northumberland County Council. Each applies the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) alongside its own Local Plan and design guidance, so the tests for a garden scheme can differ from one council to the next. We check the policies that apply to your plot.
Do you carry out plot feasibility studies across Northumberland?
Yes. We cover garden plots throughout Northumberland, including in and around Blyth, Cramlington, Ashington and Bedlington. Every enquiry starts with a free desktop appraisal and, where the plot looks viable, a site visit. Survey and design work beyond that is quoted in writing before you commit.
How much is a garden plot in Northumberland worth?
It depends on location, size, access, title and, above all, planning. Two similar gardens in the same street can be worth very different amounts if one has easy access and the other doesn’t. We don’t quote figures before we’ve looked at a plot properly; the free appraisal is the way to find out.