Guides to garden plots and backland development
Straight, practical explanations of what decides whether a garden can take a new home, how selling part of a garden works, and what building one involves — written for England and Wales, with links to the official sources.
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What is backland development?
Backland development means building new homes behind existing houses, usually in rear gardens. How it differs from infill and tandem, and what makes it work.
Read the guideCan I build a house in my garden?
Can you build a house in your garden? An honest checklist covering plot size, access, character, neighbours, title, services and planning in England and Wales.
Read the guideHow councils decide backland planning applications
How councils in England and Wales decide backland planning applications: the policies, material considerations, pre-app advice, conditions and appeals.
Read the guideHow wide does the access to a garden plot need to be?
How wide a drive to a garden plot needs to be: fire engine access and sprinklers, bin distances, visibility splays, passing places and neighbours' amenity.
Read the guideOverlooking, privacy and separation distances for garden plots
How councils judge overlooking on garden plots: separation distances, window placement, obscure glazing, roof forms and the BRE 45 and 25 degree tests.
Read the guideHow a garden-plot joint venture works
How a garden plot joint venture works: the main structures, homes-for-land deals, the protections a landowner needs, exit routes, and why tax advice matters.
Read the guideBuilding on a garden plot in Wales: what's different
How building on a garden plot in Wales differs from England: PPW, TAN 12, LDPs, sprinklers, SAB drainage approval, biodiversity net benefit, LTT and phosphates.
Read the guideRedeveloping garage courts and yards behind houses
How garage courts and yards behind houses become new homes: users' rights, leases and licences, contamination, demolition, access lanes and brownfield status.
Read the guideWhat it's like living next to the build in your own garden
Living next to a home being built in your garden: site set-up, hoarding, working hours, party walls, driveway access, deliveries, dust, privacy and snagging.
Read the guideTrees, wildlife and ecology surveys on garden plots
How trees and wildlife affect building on a garden plot: TPOs, conservation area notice, root protection, bat, newt and bird surveys, and biodiversity rules.
Read the guideSelling or partnering
How to sell part of your garden for development
How to sell part of your garden for development: the routes, what affects value, the solicitor steps for a transfer of part, and the covenants that protect you.
Read the guideWhat decides what a garden plot is worth?
What decides a garden plot's value: residual value explained in plain words, plus planning status, access, size, location, build and abnormal costs, and risk.
Read the guideOption agreement vs subject to planning vs outright sale
Option agreement, sale subject to planning or outright sale? Compare who carries planning risk, when you are paid, price certainty and who pays legal costs.
Read the guideCombining gardens with neighbours: how land assembly works
How neighbours combine back gardens into one building site: shared access, collaboration and equalisation deals, if someone pulls out, and keeping your house.
Read the guideTax when you sell part of your garden
How Capital Gains Tax and Private Residence Relief apply when you sell part of your garden: permitted area, timing, planning, building yourself, 60-day reports.
Read the guideMortgages, titles and covenants when you sell part of your garden
The legal side of selling part of your garden: lender consent, the transfer plan, restrictive covenants, rights of way, boundaries and protecting your home.
Read the guideBuilding
What it costs to build a house in your garden
The costs of building a house in your garden: surveys, design, planning fees, CIL, utilities, access, foundations, the build, warranty, VAT and contingency.
Read the guideAnnexe or a separate home in the garden?
Annexe or separate home in your garden? How planning, conditions, title, selling, mortgages, council tax, CIL and VAT differ, and how to choose the right route.
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