Bungalows on large plots in Reigate

Thinking about the garden around your Reigate bungalow as a building plot? Broadly, there are three paths. A new home can go at the back, a new home can go alongside, or the whole plot can be redesigned with the bungalow replaced.

Staying put suits owners who like living on one level in a familiar place. Starting again suits a plot where a fresh layout could fit noticeably more. We appraise your plot free of charge, then set out what Reigate and Banstead Borough Council is likely to look for with each option and which of our routes fits your plans.

Brick bungalow on a wide plot in a quiet cul-de-sac with a very large garden to the side
Planning authority
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
Postcodes
RH2
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 Reigate

Bungalow plots in RH2, as anywhere, come in many shapes: some are long and narrow, some wide and shallow, some on corners or bends. That is why we measure your plot on the ground rather than working from averages or maps alone.

The policies in the council’s Local Plan set the tests Reigate and Banstead Borough Council applies to new homes on garden land. Its design guidance usually adds detail on spacing, building lines and roof heights, and those details matter a great deal on a single-storey road where one tall roof stands out.

Section showing noon sun and shadows in Reigate: about 39 degrees on 21 March and 15 degrees on 21 December21 m21 Mar, noon: sun 39°, shadow 6.2 m21 Dec, noon: sun 15°, shadow 18.2 mExistingNew home
Noon sun in Reigate on 21 March sits about 39° above the horizon, so a typical two-storey eaves line (about 5 m) throws a shadow of roughly 6.2 m. In December the sun is only about 15° up and shadows stretch much further. Drawn for a garden facing north, where it matters most.

How we’d take it forward in Reigate

After a free appraisal, we set out what could realistically fit on your Reigate 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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  • 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.
  • A two-storey home on a road of bungalows is often resisted, so designs may need to stay low.

Questions about garden plots in Reigate

Do I need to sell my Reigate bungalow to develop the plot?

No. You can keep the bungalow and sell a plot, have us build on the land for you, or enter a joint venture. Replacing the bungalow is only one of several options, and staying put is often simpler.

Can I build a second home on my bungalow plot in Reigate?

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 Reigate 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 Reigate and Banstead Borough Council allow a two-storey house next to bungalows in Reigate?

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.

Other options in Reigate

Bungalows on large plots near Reigate

Find out what your garden could become

Free garden plot appraisal. No cost, no obligation, and a straight answer if it won’t work.