- Planning authority
- Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
- Postcodes
- TN1, TN2, TN4
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 39°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.2 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Kent
Tunbridge Wells: light, access and policy
Before Tunbridge Wells Borough Council sees an application, the design should already answer the obvious objections from bungalow neighbours: upstairs windows, shadow and the loss of an open outlook. Because the March noon sun over Tunbridge Wells stands at roughly 39°, roof pitch and eaves height make a real difference to how far shadows reach.
Rooflights, low eaves and windows facing the plot’s own garden are common answers. Pre-application advice from the council can test them before a full application is made, which saves redesign later.
From first call to decision
Tell us roughly where your Tunbridge Wells 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.
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.
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
- The order in which you sell the plot and the bungalow can affect your tax, so take advice first.
- You’ll keep a smaller garden, and a drive alongside your bungalow brings cars past your windows.
- Replacing the bungalow means moving out during demolition and building, which suits some owners and not others.
Questions about garden plots in Tunbridge Wells
Could I build a home for a relative on my bungalow plot in Tunbridge Wells?
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.
Can I sell part of my bungalow garden in Tunbridge Wells 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.
Can I build a second home on my bungalow plot in Tunbridge Wells?
Possibly, if the plot is wide or deep enough and has a workable way in. The new home needs planning permission from Tunbridge Wells 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.
Is it worth replacing my bungalow in Tunbridge Wells 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 Tunbridge Wells
- Build a new home in your garden
- Tandem and landlocked plots
- Plot feasibility and design
- Large rear gardens
- Build a home for family in your garden
- Planning promotion for your garden plot