- Planning authority
- Elmbridge Borough Council
- Postcodes
- KT11
- 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 Cobham
Winter light is often the deciding factor for bungalow neighbours. In Cobham, 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. Elmbridge 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 Cobham
After a free appraisal, we set out what could realistically fit on your Cobham 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.
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
- 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.
- A two-storey home on a road of bungalows is often resisted, so designs may need to stay low.
Your questions, answered for Cobham
Will Elmbridge Borough Council allow a two-storey house next to bungalows in Cobham?
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 long does planning for a bungalow plot in Cobham 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.
How much garden does a bungalow in Cobham 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 Cobham 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.
Other options in Cobham
- Garden plot option agreement
- Planning promotion for your garden plot
- Sell subject to planning
- Build a new home in your garden
- Plot feasibility and design
- Build a home for family in your garden