- Planning authority
- Stafford Borough Council
- Postcodes
- ST16, ST17, ST18
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 37°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.6 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Staffordshire
Before you decide in Stafford
Overshadowing is a common objection to garden homes, so we answer it with numbers. At noon on 21 March the sun over Stafford is about 37° above the horizon, and the shadow from a 5 m eaves line reaches about 6.6 m; on 21 December the sun rises to only about 14°.
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. Stafford Borough Council can then judge the scheme on evidence rather than impressions.
From first call to decision
To start, send us your Stafford address and a few photos of the garden, or give us a call. We check the title, access, constraints and nearby planning history, then talk it through with you. If the plot looks viable, we visit, explain whether an application is worth making and set out our fee and likely survey costs in writing.
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
- Permission doesn’t override private rights: covenants, ransom strips, sewer easements and party wall matters still need dealing with separately.
- Planning is the council’s decision; even a well-prepared application can be refused, and the costs of preparing it aren’t recovered.
- Conditions can add cost and work before building starts, such as approved drainage details, tree protection or a construction management plan.
Your questions, answered for Stafford
How close to neighbours can a new home in Stafford 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 Stafford Borough Council decides. Screening, levels, roof form and window positions can all change what is acceptable.
Does a garden plot application in Stafford 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 my neighbours stop a garden house in Stafford?
Neighbours can object, and the council must take relevant planning objections into account, but they can’t veto an application. Comments about privacy, light, noise from the access, parking and character carry weight; issues like property values or private disputes generally don’t. Talking to neighbours before submitting often helps.
What documents are needed for a garden plot application in Stafford?
Stafford Borough Council publishes a local validation list, as every council does. Typically you need the forms, a location plan with the site and access edged in red, a site plan, floor plans, elevations, an ownership certificate and the fee, plus reports the plot calls for, such as trees, ecology, drainage and access. We prepare to the list for your address.
Other options in Stafford
- Garage courts and yards
- Large rear gardens
- Garden plot option agreement
- Build a new home in your garden
- Combine gardens with your neighbours
- Bungalows on large plots