- Nation
- England
- National planning policy
- NPPF
- Planning authorities
- 3
- City
- Bath
Somerset: the planning picture
Most garden applications in Somerset turn on a handful of reports. A tree survey shows which trees must be protected. An ecology report covers wildlife and how the scheme meets biodiversity net gain rules. Drainage information matters too, since every new home needs a drainage plan the council will want to see. An access note covers drive width, visibility and fire strategy. Ordering the right surveys at the right time avoids both wasted spend and delays partway through, and a plot with no nearby trees or wildlife interest may need far fewer reports than you expect.
Planning authorities covering Somerset include Bath and North East Somerset Council, North Somerset Council, Somerset 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 Somerset
- Bath
- Weston-super-Mare
- Taunton
- Yeovil
- Bridgwater
- Portishead
- Frome
- Burnham-on-Sea
- Clevedon
- Nailsea
- Keynsham
- Wells
Questions about garden plot planning in Somerset
What drainage information do Somerset 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.
Is outline or full permission better for Somerset 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.
Do you prepare planning applications for garden plots across Somerset?
Yes. We offer to prepare and manage planning applications for new homes on garden land throughout Somerset, working with whichever council covers your address. The appraisal is free; our fee for the application work is agreed in writing before we start, with the council’s fee and any specialist surveys listed separately.
How much is a garden plot in Somerset 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.