- Nation
- England
- National planning policy
- NPPF
- Planning authorities
- 6
- County town
- Reading
What to know in Berkshire
National policy in England sets the frame for garden applications in Berkshire. The broad tests come from the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), under which design quality, the character of the area and the living conditions of neighbours all carry real weight when a home is proposed in a garden. The local planning authority then applies its Local Plan and the council’s design guide or supplementary planning document. Our job is to show, with drawings and evidence, how a scheme meets those tests on your plot.
Planning authorities covering Berkshire include Bracknell Forest Council, Reading Borough Council, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Slough Borough Council, West Berkshire Council, Wokingham Borough Council.
How it works
Free plot appraisal
We review the title plan, access, constraints, policy and planning history around your address, then talk it through with you. If the plot looks viable we visit, and tell you plainly whether an application is worth making.
Surveys and design
A measured survey comes first, followed by the specialist surveys the plot needs, such as trees or ecology. The layout is designed around access, privacy, daylight, parking, bins and garden space for both homes.
Pre-application advice
Where policy is tight or the plot unusual, we put a draft scheme to the council’s planners first. Their written response shows which issues to fix before you pay the full application fee.
Submit and manage
We complete the forms, ownership certificate, drawings and statements, pay the fee on your behalf and submit. During consultation we answer officers’ questions, respond to consultees and agree amendments where they help.
Decision and next steps
If permission is granted, we explain every condition and what must happen before work starts. If it’s refused, we review the reasons with you and set out the options: amend and resubmit, appeal, or stop.
Garden plot planning in towns across Berkshire
- Reading
- Slough
- Bracknell
- Maidenhead
- Wokingham
- Newbury
- Earley
- Windsor
- Woodley
- Crowthorne
- Thatcham
- Sandhurst
- Ascot
Questions about garden plot planning in Berkshire
Is outline or full permission better for Berkshire garden plots?
For most garden plots, full permission is the stronger option because privacy, daylight and access can only be judged properly with detailed drawings. Outline may suit an owner who intends to sell and wants a buyer to choose the house design. Where outline is used, we usually fix the access at that stage.
Who decides planning appeals for Berkshire garden plots?
In England, appeals go to the Planning Inspectorate; in Wales, to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales. Either way, an appeal against a refusal must be made within 6 months of the decision date. An appeal is decided on the planning merits by someone independent of the council, and it usually takes several months.
What drainage information do Berkshire garden plots need?
For a new home, foul drainage must connect to a sewer or a suitable treatment system, and rainwater has to be handled on site. In practice that means a drainage plan the council will want to see. If a public sewer crosses the plot, the water company may also need a build-over agreement, separate from planning.
Can you build a new home in my garden in Berkshire for me to keep?
Yes. Through our design and build route we survey your plot, design a new home with you, apply for planning and, once permission is granted, build it. You keep the land and the new home, to sell, let or use for family. You get a written quote after design and survey, and any earlier guide price is a guide only.