- Planning authority
- Bristol City Council
- Postcodes
- BS4
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 39°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.3 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Bristol
What the council will look at in Brislington
When Bristol City Council looks at a new home next to a bungalow, the first concern is usually height. A two-storey building among single-storey neighbours can overlook gardens and change the look of the road, so many schemes stay low or use rooms in the roof.
Light matters too. Under the 39° midday sun that Brislington sees on 21 March, an eaves line about 5 metres up throws a shadow close to 6.3 m long, while a bungalow’s lower eaves throw much less. Next door to a bungalow, that difference shows clearly in the garden.
The next steps, locally
Tell us roughly where your Brislington bungalow is and how the plot is laid out. We check the title plan, the planning history nearby and the street from the desk, then talk through what you want from the land. If it looks viable, we visit, measure and sketch the options for you to consider, with no cost and no obligation at any point.
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.
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.
Sale or build
If you sell, your solicitor handles the transfer and any lender release. If we build, you receive a written quote after design and survey, and the new home is built and handed over to you.
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.
- The order in which you sell the plot and the bungalow can affect your tax, so take advice first.
Brislington: questions to ask
Will Bristol City Council allow a two-storey house next to bungalows in Brislington?
It depends on the street and the design. Councils are often cautious about two-storey homes among single-storey neighbours because of overlooking and the change to the street. Chalet designs with rooms in the roof are a common compromise, but the council decides.
Will neighbours in Brislington be able to object to a new home next to my bungalow?
They can comment on the planning application, and Bristol City Council takes their views into account. They don’t have a veto. Designs that avoid overlooking and shadow usually draw fewer and weaker objections.
Is it worth replacing my bungalow in Brislington 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.
Could I build a home for a relative on my bungalow plot in Brislington?
Yes, through our design and build route. You keep the land, and we design, get planning for and build the new home. A separate home needs planning permission; an annexe used as part of the main house is treated differently.
Other options in Brislington
- Planning promotion for your garden plot
- Garage courts and yards
- Sell subject to planning
- Build a new home in your garden
- Joint venture on your garden plot
- Sell part of your garden