- Planning authority
- Malvern Hills District Council
- Postcodes
- WR13, WR14
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 38°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.4 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Worcestershire
The local picture in Malvern
Before Malvern Hills 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 Malvern stands at roughly 38°, 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 Malvern
After a free appraisal, we set out what could realistically fit on your Malvern 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
- 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.
Malvern: questions to ask
Can I build a second home on my bungalow plot in Malvern?
Possibly, if the plot is wide or deep enough and has a workable way in. The new home needs planning permission from Malvern Hills 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.
Will neighbours in Malvern be able to object to a new home next to my bungalow?
They can comment on the planning application, and Malvern Hills District Council takes their views into account. They don’t have a veto. Designs that avoid overlooking and shadow usually draw fewer and weaker objections.
How long does planning for a bungalow plot in Malvern 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.
Do I need to sell my Malvern 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.
Other options in Malvern
- Planning permission for a garden plot
- Large rear gardens
- Build a new home in your garden
- Plot feasibility and design
- Build a home for family in your garden
- Tandem and landlocked plots