- Planning authority
- Rossendale Borough Council
- Postcodes
- BB4
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 36°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.8 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Lancashire
Rawtenstall: light, access and policy
When Rossendale 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 36° midday sun that Rawtenstall sees on 21 March, an eaves line about 5 metres up throws a shadow close to 6.8 m long, while a bungalow’s lower eaves throw much less. Next door to a bungalow, that difference shows clearly in the garden.
From first call to decision
Tell us roughly where your Rawtenstall 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.
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.
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
- Filling the gap beside a bungalow can change the look of the street, which councils weigh carefully.
- 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.
Rawtenstall: questions to ask
How much garden does a bungalow in Rawtenstall 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.
Will Rossendale Borough Council allow a two-storey house next to bungalows in Rawtenstall?
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.
Can I build a second home on my bungalow plot in Rawtenstall?
Possibly, if the plot is wide or deep enough and has a workable way in. The new home needs planning permission from Rossendale 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.
How long does planning for a bungalow plot in Rawtenstall usually take?
It varies. Surveys and design often take a few weeks to a few months, then the council needs time to decide. Pre-application advice, extra reports or design changes can add time. We give you a realistic idea after the appraisal.
Other options in Rawtenstall
- Build a new home in your garden
- Joint venture on your garden plot
- Planning permission for a garden plot
- Garden plot option agreement
- Sell subject to planning
- Plot feasibility and design