- Planning authority
- Tandridge District Council
- Postcodes
- CR3
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 39°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.2 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Surrey
What shapes a plot in Caterham
Before Tandridge District 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 Caterham 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.
What happens next in Caterham
After a free appraisal, we set out what could realistically fit on your Caterham 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.
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
- Covenants on older estates can limit building, and resolving one takes time and may cost money.
- The order in which you sell the plot and the bungalow can affect your tax, so take advice first.
- Filling the gap beside a bungalow can change the look of the street, which councils weigh carefully.
Questions about garden plots in Caterham
Will Tandridge District Council allow a two-storey house next to bungalows in Caterham?
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.
How much garden does a bungalow in Caterham 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 sell part of my bungalow garden in Caterham 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 Caterham?
Possibly, if the plot is wide or deep enough and has a workable way in. The new home needs planning permission from Tandridge 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.
Other options in Caterham
- Build a new home in your garden
- Sell subject to planning
- Joint venture on your garden plot
- Plot feasibility and design
- Corner and side plots
- Large rear gardens