- Planning authority
- Somerset Council
- Postcodes
- TA1, TA2
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 39°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.2 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Somerset
What shapes a plot in Taunton
Overshadowing is a common objection to garden homes, so we answer it with numbers. At noon on 21 March the sun over Taunton is about 39° above the horizon, and the shadow from a 5 m eaves line reaches about 6.2 m; on 21 December the sun rises to only about 16°.
Using those angles, we model shadows across neighbouring gardens and windows and adjust the height, position or roof shape of the new home until the effect is acceptable. Somerset Council can then judge the scheme on evidence rather than impressions.
The next steps, locally
After the free appraisal of your Taunton plot, work begins with a measured survey and any specialist reports. We then design the layout, test it against local guidance, prepare the drawings and statements, and, if worthwhile, seek pre-application advice. Once you’ve approved the scheme, we submit the application and manage it through to a decision.
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.
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.
Worth checking early
- Neighbours have a formal say during consultation, and the council must weigh any planning objections they raise.
- Conditions can add cost and work before building starts, such as approved drainage details, tree protection or a construction management plan.
- Permission doesn’t override private rights: covenants, ransom strips, sewer easements and party wall matters still need dealing with separately.
Questions about garden plots in Taunton
Does a garden plot application in Taunton need a tree survey?
Often, yes. If trees on or near the plot could be affected, councils usually expect a tree survey showing root protection areas and how they’ll be protected during building. Trees with a Tree Preservation Order, or in a conservation area, need consent or notice before any work, and can shape where the house and drive go.
Can I sell my Taunton garden plot once it has planning permission?
Yes. Planning permission stays with the land, so the plot can be sold with it and the buyer can build the approved scheme, subject to any conditions. The plot will need its own title through a transfer of part at HM Land Registry, and any mortgage lender will need to release it. Take advice from a tax adviser before selling.
How long will my Taunton garden plot application take?
The statutory period for a minor application, such as one or a few new homes, is 8 weeks from validation, in both England and Wales. Many take longer, and the council may ask you to agree an extension in writing. If no decision is made in time and no extension is agreed, you can appeal for non-determination.
How close to neighbours can a new home in Taunton be?
It depends on the council’s guidance and the window layout. Many councils use around 21 metres between facing back windows and around 12 to 15 metres between a back window and a blank side wall, but the guide used by Somerset Council decides. Screening, levels, roof form and window positions can all change what is acceptable.
Other options in Taunton
- Plot feasibility and design
- Garage courts and yards
- Planning promotion for your garden plot
- Joint venture on your garden plot
- Garden plot option agreement
- Bungalows on large plots