- Planning authority
- Cheltenham Borough Council
- Postcodes
- GL50, GL51, GL52
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 38°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.4 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Gloucestershire
The local picture in Cheltenham
Bungalow plots in GL50, GL51 and GL52, 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 Cheltenham Borough 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 Cheltenham
After a free appraisal, we set out what could realistically fit on your Cheltenham 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.
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.
- A two-storey home on a road of bungalows is often resisted, so designs may need to stay low.
Questions about garden plots in Cheltenham
How much garden does a bungalow in Cheltenham 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.
Is it worth replacing my bungalow in Cheltenham 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.
Can I sell part of my bungalow garden in Cheltenham 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.
Could I build a home for a relative on my bungalow plot in Cheltenham?
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 Cheltenham
- Garage courts and yards
- Build a home for family in your garden
- Corner and side plots
- Plot feasibility and design
- Combine gardens with your neighbours
- Planning promotion for your garden plot