- Planning authority
- Bristol City Council
- Postcodes
- BS7
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 39°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.3 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Bristol
Horfield: light, access and policy
Replacing a bungalow in BS7 with two or more homes needs planning permission for the new homes, and Bristol City Council will look closely at the number of homes, their height, parking, bins and garden space for each household.
A replacement can sometimes fit better than squeezing a new home behind a bungalow that stays, because the whole plot can be laid out from scratch. Neighbours are consulted either way, and a design that respects single-storey homes next door usually meets fewer objections.
The next steps, locally
Our first visit to a bungalow plot in Horfield focuses on four things: the width and depth of the land, the way in, the neighbouring homes and the look of the street. From that we can say which options are worth pursuing, which aren’t, and roughly how long each would usually take, given the surveys and reports the plot is likely to need.
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.
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
- Covenants on older estates can limit building, and resolving one takes time and may cost money.
- A two-storey home on a road of bungalows is often resisted, so designs may need to stay low.
- Filling the gap beside a bungalow can change the look of the street, which councils weigh carefully.
Your questions, answered for Horfield
Do I need to sell my Horfield 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.
Will neighbours in Horfield 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 Horfield 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 Horfield?
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 Horfield
- Garden plot option agreement
- Tandem and landlocked plots
- Combine gardens with your neighbours
- Sell part of your garden
- Build a new home in your garden
- Corner and side plots