- Planning authority
- Three Rivers District Council
- Postcodes
- WD3
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 38°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.3 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Hertfordshire
What the council will look at in Rickmansworth
Winter light is often the deciding factor for bungalow neighbours. In Rickmansworth, the December sun gets no higher than about 15° even at noon, so even a modest building casts a long shadow across a low neighbour’s garden and into ground-floor rooms.
Keeping the new home low, setting it back from boundaries, or placing it where its shadow falls mainly on its own land all help. Three Rivers District Council weighs daylight alongside privacy, garden space and the look of the street, so a design that handles all four together stands the best chance.
How we’d take it forward in Rickmansworth
After a free appraisal, we set out what could realistically fit on your Rickmansworth 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.
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.
- You’ll keep a smaller garden, and a drive alongside your bungalow brings cars past your windows.
- Filling the gap beside a bungalow can change the look of the street, which councils weigh carefully.
Questions about garden plots in Rickmansworth
Is it worth replacing my bungalow in Rickmansworth 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 Rickmansworth 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.
Can I build a second home on my bungalow plot in Rickmansworth?
Possibly, if the plot is wide or deep enough and has a workable way in. The new home needs planning permission from Three Rivers District 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 Rickmansworth 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 Rickmansworth
- Sell subject to planning
- Tandem and landlocked plots
- Build a new home in your garden
- Combine gardens with your neighbours
- Corner and side plots
- Joint venture on your garden plot