- Planning authority
- Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
- Postcodes
- KT20, SM7
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 39°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.2 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Surrey
How it plays out in Banstead
Winter light is often the deciding factor for bungalow neighbours. In Banstead, 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. Reigate and Banstead Borough 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.
What happens next in Banstead
Once you’ve chosen a route, we prepare the planning case for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, usually starting with pre-application advice. Neighbours are consulted when the application goes in, we answer any queries from the planning officer, and the council decides. If you’re selling, your solicitor handles the transfer; if we’re building, you receive a written quote after design and survey, before any construction is agreed.
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.
- A two-storey home on a road of bungalows is often resisted, so designs may need to stay low.
Your questions, answered for Banstead
Can I build a second home on my bungalow plot in Banstead?
Possibly, if the plot is wide or deep enough and has a workable way in. The new home needs planning permission from Reigate and Banstead 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 Banstead 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.
Will neighbours in Banstead be able to object to a new home next to my bungalow?
They can comment on the planning application, and Reigate and Banstead 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.
Is it worth replacing my bungalow in Banstead 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 Banstead
- Tandem and landlocked plots
- Large rear gardens
- Planning permission for a garden plot
- Planning promotion for your garden plot
- Corner and side plots
- Garden plot option agreement