Bungalows on large plots in Poole

Thinking about the garden around your Poole bungalow as a building plot? Broadly, there are three paths. A new home can go at the back, a new home can go alongside, or the whole plot can be redesigned with the bungalow replaced.

Staying put suits owners who like living on one level in a familiar place. Starting again suits a plot where a fresh layout could fit noticeably more. We appraise your plot free of charge, then set out what BCP Council is likely to look for with each option and which of our routes fits your plans.

Brick bungalow on a wide plot in a quiet cul-de-sac with a very large garden to the side
Planning authority
BCP Council
Postcodes
BH12, BH13, BH14, BH15, BH17
Noon sun, 21 March
About 39°
Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
About 6.1 m
Planning plan
Local Plan
County
Dorset

How it plays out in Poole

Replacing a bungalow in BH12, BH13, BH14 and BH15 with two or more homes needs planning permission for the new homes, and BCP 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.

Section showing noon sun and shadows in Poole: about 39 degrees on 21 March and 16 degrees on 21 December21 m21 Mar, noon: sun 39°, shadow 6.1 m21 Dec, noon: sun 16°, shadow 17.6 mExistingNew home
This section is worked out for the latitude of Poole: around 39° of sun at midday in late March and about 16° at midwinter. It shows why the gap between your house and a new home behind it is about light as well as privacy. Garden assumed to face north.

What happens next in Poole

Tell us roughly where your Poole 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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  • A two-storey home on a road of bungalows is often resisted, so designs may need to stay low.
  • The order in which you sell the plot and the bungalow can affect your tax, so take advice first.
  • Filling the gap beside a bungalow can change the look of the street, which councils weigh carefully.

Poole: questions to ask

Will BCP Council allow a two-storey house next to bungalows in Poole?

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.

Can I build a second home on my bungalow plot in Poole?

Possibly, if the plot is wide or deep enough and has a workable way in. The new home needs planning permission from BCP Council, which will look at the street scene, neighbours’ privacy and light, garden space and parking. A free appraisal tells you what is realistic.

Do I need to sell my Poole 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 long does planning for a bungalow plot in Poole usually take?

It varies. Surveys and design often take a few weeks to a few months, then the council needs time to decide. Pre-application advice, extra reports or design changes can add time. We give you a realistic idea after the appraisal.

Other options in Poole

Bungalows on large plots near Poole

Find out what your garden could become

Free garden plot appraisal. No cost, no obligation, and a straight answer if it won’t work.