- Planning authority
- Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
- Postcodes
- AL6, AL7, AL8
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 38°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.4 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Hertfordshire
What shapes a plot in Welwyn Garden City
When Welwyn Hatfield Borough 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 Welwyn Garden City 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 Welwyn Garden City
Tell us roughly where your Welwyn Garden City 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
- You’ll keep a smaller garden, and a drive alongside your bungalow brings cars past your windows.
- The order in which you sell the plot and the bungalow can affect your tax, so take advice first.
- Replacing the bungalow means moving out during demolition and building, which suits some owners and not others.
Welwyn Garden City: questions to ask
Could I build a home for a relative on my bungalow plot in Welwyn Garden City?
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 neighbours in Welwyn Garden City be able to object to a new home next to my bungalow?
They can comment on the planning application, and Welwyn Hatfield 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.
Do I need to sell my Welwyn Garden City 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 Welwyn Garden City?
Possibly, if the plot is wide or deep enough and has a workable way in. The new home needs planning permission from Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, which will look at the street scene, neighbours’ privacy and light, garden space and parking. A free appraisal tells you what is realistic.
Other options in Welwyn Garden City
- Sell part of your garden
- Combine gardens with your neighbours
- Planning permission for a garden plot
- Tandem and landlocked plots
- Joint venture on your garden plot
- Planning promotion for your garden plot