- Planning authority
- Herefordshire Council
- Postcodes
- HR1
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 38°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.4 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Herefordshire
Hereford: light, access and policy
When Herefordshire Council looks at a new home next to a bungalow, the first concern is usually height. A two-storey building among single-storey neighbours can overlook gardens and change the look of the road, so many schemes stay low or use rooms in the roof.
Light matters too. Under the 38° midday sun that Hereford sees on 21 March, an eaves line about 5 metres up throws a shadow close to 6.4 m long, while a bungalow’s lower eaves throw much less. Next door to a bungalow, that difference shows clearly in the garden.
What happens next in Hereford
Tell us roughly where your Hereford 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.
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.
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.
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.
- The order in which you sell the plot and the bungalow can affect your tax, so take advice first.
Hereford: questions to ask
Do I need to sell my Hereford 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.
Can I build a second home on my bungalow plot in Hereford?
Possibly, if the plot is wide or deep enough and has a workable way in. The new home needs planning permission from Herefordshire Council, which will look at the street scene, neighbours’ privacy and light, garden space and parking. A free appraisal tells you what is realistic.
Can I sell part of my bungalow garden in Hereford 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.
Is it worth replacing my bungalow in Hereford 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.
Other options in Hereford
- Combine gardens with your neighbours
- Build a home for family in your garden
- Planning promotion for your garden plot
- Large rear gardens
- Tandem and landlocked plots
- Build a new home in your garden