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Garden plot feasibility and design in Littlehampton

Selling, building or applying for planning on a garden plot in Littlehampton all start from the same place: knowing what the plot can take. A feasibility study gives you that base, with a measured survey, a constraints check, access options and concept designs you can use whichever route you choose.

It also gives you something solid to discuss with your family, your neighbours, your solicitor or a buyer. We start with a free plot appraisal, then price any further work in writing so you can decide how far to go, one stage at a time.

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Surveyor in a hi-vis vest taking GPS measurements in a long suburban back garden
Planning authority
Arun District Council
Postcodes
BN16, BN17
Noon sun, 21 March
About 39°
Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
About 6.1 m
Planning plan
Local Plan
County
West Sussex

What the council will look at in Littlehampton

A measured survey in Littlehampton records the plot exactly: boundaries, levels, trees, drains, and the positions and heights of neighbouring windows. It is the base for everything else. From it we can plot the shadow a two-storey eaves line would cast, roughly 6.1 m at noon on 21 March when the sun is near 39° here, and the distances between the new home and the houses around it. Arun District Council will expect the application drawings to be accurate to a survey like this.

Section showing noon sun and shadows in Littlehampton: about 39 degrees on 21 March and 16 degrees on 21 December21 m21 Mar, noon: sun 39°, shadow 6.1 m21 Dec, noon: sun 16°, shadow 17.7 mExistingNew home
This section is worked out for the latitude of Littlehampton: around 39° of sun at midday in late March and about 16° at midwinter. It shows why the gap between your house and a new home behind it is about light as well as privacy. Garden assumed to face north.

What happens next in Littlehampton

From first call to a clear answer, feasibility work in Littlehampton follows a simple order: free appraisal, written quote, measured survey, title and constraints check, access and capacity study, concept designs, and pre-application advice from Arun District Council where it helps. You get a short report setting out the options, and the choice of what happens next stays with you.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Worth checking early

  • Pre-application advice is not binding, and the council’s decision on a formal application can still differ.
  • Some ecology surveys can only be done at certain times of year, which can affect the programme.
  • A feasibility study can end in a no; finding that out early costs far less than a refused application.

Your questions, answered for Littlehampton

Can I get pre-application advice on a garden plot in Littlehampton?

Usually, yes. Most councils offer pre-application advice, and many charge a fee for it. Arun District 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 many homes could fit in my garden in Littlehampton?

That is what a capacity study answers. It tests options against separation distances from neighbours, garden space for each home, parking, bins and access, as well as the policies Arun District Council applies. For many gardens the answer is one home; larger or combined plots can sometimes take more. We show the options on drawings so you can see why.

What if my Littlehampton garden plot fails the feasibility check?

Then you know before spending money on a planning application, and you know why. Sometimes a smaller scheme, an annexe, or working with the neighbours next door changes the answer, and we will say if so. If nothing does, you keep the survey and the report for the future. You are under no obligation to us either way.

Can you check the title deeds on my Littlehampton 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.

Other options in Littlehampton

Feasibility and design near Littlehampton

Find out what your garden could become

Free garden plot appraisal. No cost, no obligation, and a straight answer if it won’t work.

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