Bungalows on large plots in Alton

If you own a bungalow on a large plot in Alton, you may have room for a new home without moving. It could sit at the back, reached by a drive alongside, or next door on a wide plot, facing the street with its own frontage.

Alternatively, the bungalow could come down to make way for two or more homes designed for the whole site. Each option raises different questions for East Hampshire District Council, from height and spacing to parking and privacy, and we look at all of them during a free appraisal before you decide anything.

Brick bungalow on a wide plot in a quiet cul-de-sac with a very large garden to the side
Planning authority
East Hampshire District Council
Postcodes
GU34
Noon sun, 21 March
About 39°
Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
About 6.2 m
Planning plan
Local Plan
County
Hampshire

What shapes a plot in Alton

Bungalow plots in GU34, 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 East Hampshire District 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.

Section showing noon sun and shadows in Alton: about 39 degrees on 21 March and 15 degrees on 21 December21 m21 Mar, noon: sun 39°, shadow 6.2 m21 Dec, noon: sun 15°, shadow 18.1 mExistingNew home
This section is worked out for the latitude of Alton: around 39° of sun at midday in late March and about 15° 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.

From first call to decision

Once you’ve chosen a route, we prepare the planning case for East Hampshire District Council, usually starting with pre-application advice. Neighbours are consulted when the application goes in, we answer any queries from the planning officer, and the council decides. If you’re selling, your solicitor handles the transfer; if we’re building, you receive a written quote after design and survey, before any construction is agreed.

  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. 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.

  4. 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.

Worth checking early

  • A two-storey home on a road of bungalows is often resisted, so designs may need to stay low.
  • Covenants on older estates can limit building, and resolving one takes time and may cost money.
  • You’ll keep a smaller garden, and a drive alongside your bungalow brings cars past your windows.

Questions about garden plots in Alton

Is it worth replacing my bungalow in Alton 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.

How much garden does a bungalow in Alton 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.

Could I build a home for a relative on my bungalow plot in Alton?

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.

Will East Hampshire District Council allow a two-storey house next to bungalows in Alton?

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.

Other options in Alton

Bungalows on large plots near Alton

Find out what your garden could become

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