- Planning authority
- East Cambridgeshire District Council
- Postcodes
- CB7
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 38°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.5 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Cambridgeshire
Before you decide in Ely
Bungalow plots in CB7, as anywhere, come in many shapes: some are long and narrow, some wide and shallow, some on corners or bends. That is why we measure your plot on the ground rather than working from averages or maps alone.
The policies in the council’s Local Plan set the tests East Cambridgeshire District Council applies to new homes on garden land. Its design guidance usually adds detail on spacing, building lines and roof heights, and those details matter a great deal on a single-storey road where one tall roof stands out.
What happens next in Ely
After a free appraisal, we set out what could realistically fit on your Ely plot: a home behind, a home beside, or a replacement scheme. You choose the route that suits you, whether that’s selling, partnering or having us build, and only then do we start on drawings and planning work. Nothing is spent on design until you’ve decided.
Free plot appraisal
We look at the plot’s width and depth, the access, the planning history nearby and the character of the street, then talk through what you want. It’s free, with no obligation, and a site visit follows if it looks viable.
Compare the options
We sketch what could realistically fit: a home behind, a home beside, or a replacement scheme. You see the trade-offs for each, including what happens to your own garden and parking, before choosing a route.
Choose your route
You can sell a plot and stay put, sell subject to planning, grant an option, enter a joint venture, or keep the land and have us design, get planning for and build a new home on it.
Planning application
We prepare drawings and reports designed around single-storey neighbours and the street scene, usually seek pre-application advice, and submit. The council consults neighbours and makes the decision.
Worth checking early
- Filling the gap beside a bungalow can change the look of the street, which councils weigh carefully.
- You’ll keep a smaller garden, and a drive alongside your bungalow brings cars past your windows.
- Covenants on older estates can limit building, and resolving one takes time and may cost money.
Your questions, answered for Ely
Can I build a second home on my bungalow plot in Ely?
Possibly, if the plot is wide or deep enough and has a workable way in. The new home needs planning permission from East Cambridgeshire District Council, which will look at the street scene, neighbours’ privacy and light, garden space and parking. A free appraisal tells you what is realistic.
Is it worth replacing my bungalow in Ely with more homes?
Sometimes, where the plot is large and the bungalow is dated or poorly placed. Replacement can fit more homes than building behind, but you would need to move out during the work. We compare both approaches for your plot during the appraisal.
Do I need to sell my Ely bungalow to develop the plot?
No. You can keep the bungalow and sell a plot, have us build on the land for you, or enter a joint venture. Replacing the bungalow is only one of several options, and staying put is often simpler.
How much garden does a bungalow in Ely need to keep?
There’s no single figure. Councils look for enough private garden for both the existing home and the new one, and many have guidance on minimum garden sizes. We check your council’s guidance during the appraisal.
Other options in Ely
- Corner and side plots
- Build a home for family in your garden
- Large rear gardens
- Sell subject to planning
- Joint venture on your garden plot
- Garage courts and yards