- Planning authority
- Worthing Borough Council
- Postcodes
- BN11, BN12, BN13, BN14
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 39°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.1 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- West Sussex
The local picture in Worthing
Winter light is often the deciding factor for bungalow neighbours. In Worthing, the December sun gets no higher than about 16° 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. Worthing 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.
How we’d take it forward in Worthing
Once you’ve chosen a route, we prepare the planning case for Worthing 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
- Replacing the bungalow means moving out during demolition and building, which suits some owners and not others.
- 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.
Worthing: questions to ask
How much garden does a bungalow in Worthing 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.
Could I build a home for a relative on my bungalow plot in Worthing?
Yes, through our design and build route. You keep the land, and we design, get planning for and build the new home. A separate home needs planning permission; an annexe used as part of the main house is treated differently.
Will neighbours in Worthing be able to object to a new home next to my bungalow?
They can comment on the planning application, and Worthing 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.
Can I build a second home on my bungalow plot in Worthing?
Possibly, if the plot is wide or deep enough and has a workable way in. The new home needs planning permission from Worthing 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.
Other options in Worthing
- Joint venture on your garden plot
- Large rear gardens
- Tandem and landlocked plots
- Build a home for family in your garden
- Garage courts and yards
- Sell subject to planning