Bungalows on large plots in Eastbourne

Perhaps you own a bungalow in Eastbourne, want to stay put, but have more garden than you can comfortably look after. Selling part of the plot, or having a new home built on it, lets you keep living on one level while putting unused land to work.

Others prefer to look at the whole plot afresh, perhaps because the bungalow needs a lot of work or no longer suits them. Whichever way you lean, the starting point is the same: a free, no-obligation appraisal covering the plot, the access, the street and what Eastbourne Borough Council is likely to accept.

Brick bungalow on a wide plot in a quiet cul-de-sac with a very large garden to the side
Planning authority
Eastbourne Borough Council
Postcodes
BN20, BN21, BN22, BN23
Noon sun, 21 March
About 39°
Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
About 6.1 m
Planning plan
Local Plan
County
East Sussex

The local picture in Eastbourne

Before Eastbourne Borough Council sees an application, the design should already answer the obvious objections from bungalow neighbours: upstairs windows, shadow and the loss of an open outlook. Because the March noon sun over Eastbourne stands at roughly 39°, roof pitch and eaves height make a real difference to how far shadows reach.

Rooflights, low eaves and windows facing the plot’s own garden are common answers. Pre-application advice from the council can test them before a full application is made, which saves redesign later.

Section showing noon sun and shadows in Eastbourne: 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 17.7 mExistingNew home
Noon sun in Eastbourne on 21 March sits about 39° above the horizon, so a typical two-storey eaves line (about 5 m) throws a shadow of roughly 6.1 m. In December the sun is only about 16° up and shadows stretch much further. Drawn for a garden facing north, where it matters most.

What happens next in Eastbourne

Tell us roughly where your Eastbourne 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. 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.

  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

  • Replacing the bungalow means moving out during demolition and building, which suits some owners and not others.
  • Filling the gap beside a bungalow can change the look of the street, which councils weigh carefully.
  • The order in which you sell the plot and the bungalow can affect your tax, so take advice first.

Your questions, answered for Eastbourne

Will Eastbourne Borough Council allow a two-storey house next to bungalows in Eastbourne?

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.

Do I need to sell my Eastbourne 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 Eastbourne be able to object to a new home next to my bungalow?

They can comment on the planning application, and Eastbourne Borough Council takes their views into account. They don’t have a veto. Designs that avoid overlooking and shadow usually draw fewer and weaker objections.

Can I sell part of my bungalow garden in Eastbourne and stay living there?

Yes. You keep the bungalow and sell the land behind or beside it, with or without planning, subject to survey, title and contract. If the bungalow is mortgaged, the lender must agree to release the plot. Take tax advice before you sell.

Other options in Eastbourne

Bungalows on large plots near Eastbourne

Find out what your garden could become

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