- Planning authority
- Rugby Borough Council
- Postcodes
- CV21, CV22, CV23
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 38°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.5 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Warwickshire
Rugby: light, access and policy
Overshadowing is a common objection to garden homes, so we answer it with numbers. At noon on 21 March the sun over Rugby is about 38° above the horizon, and the shadow from a 5 m eaves line reaches about 6.5 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. Rugby Borough Council can then judge the scheme on evidence rather than impressions.
From first call to decision
After the free appraisal of your Rugby 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.
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.
Worth checking early
- Specialist surveys can be needed at short notice when a consultee raises an issue, adding cost and time.
- 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.
Questions about garden plots in Rugby
Can I sell my Rugby 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.
Does a garden plot application in Rugby 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.
Who decides planning applications for garden plots in Rugby?
Rugby Borough Council decides applications for addresses in Rugby. Small applications are usually decided by planning officers under delegated powers, and national and council rules set out when one can go to the planning committee instead. The decision is based on the council’s Local Plan, national policy and other material considerations, including neighbours’ and consultees’ comments.
How close to neighbours can a new home in Rugby 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 Rugby Borough Council decides. Screening, levels, roof form and window positions can all change what is acceptable.
Other options in Rugby
- Sell subject to planning
- Build a home for family in your garden
- Bungalows on large plots
- Joint venture on your garden plot
- Tandem and landlocked plots
- Build a new home in your garden