- Nation
- England
- National planning policy
- NPPF
- Planning authorities
- 7
- City
- Brighton
Getting it right in East Sussex
Covenants are common on estate corner plots, in East Sussex as elsewhere. Some were written to keep corners open or limit each plot to one house, and they still bind the land today unless released or modified. Options include indemnity insurance, agreement with whoever benefits, or an application to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber). Your lender must also agree to release the plot. We read the title documents during the appraisal, so you know about any restriction before paying for designs.
Planning authorities covering East Sussex include Brighton and Hove City Council, Eastbourne Borough Council, Hastings Borough Council, Lewes District Council, Rother District Council, Wealden District Council, South Downs National Park Authority.
How it works
Free plot appraisal
We look at your plot on maps, the title plan and street views, check planning history nearby and talk it through with you. If a home beside yours looks possible we visit. No cost, no obligation.
Read the street
We measure the plot and record the building line, the gaps between houses, roof heights, materials and boundary walls, then check where a new drive could go and what drivers would be able to see from it.
Choose your route
Sell the plot outright, sell it subject to planning, or grant an option while you keep your house. Or keep the land and have us design, get planning for and build a new home on it.
Design and planning
We draw a home that sits in the street rather than fighting it, usually take pre-application advice, and submit the application. The council consults neighbours and decides; small schemes often take a few months.
Sale or build
For a sale, your solicitor handles the transfer of part and any release from your lender. For a build, a written quote follows design and survey, then we build, arrange the warranty and hand over.
Corner and side plots in towns across East Sussex
Questions about corner and side plots in East Sussex
What design rules apply to side plot homes in East Sussex?
National policy, the NPPF, sets the broad tests, and each council adds its own plan and design guidance. Expect questions on building lines, spacing, roof height, materials, parking, bins and light to neighbouring windows. The detail varies by council, so we always check locally.
Which councils decide side plot applications in East Sussex?
The council for your address decides. Across East Sussex, the planning authorities include Brighton and Hove City Council, Eastbourne Borough Council, Hastings Borough Council, Lewes District Council, Rother District Council and other councils, and each has its own plan and guidance on how new homes should fit into existing streets. We look up the policies that apply at your exact address before suggesting a design.
Are corner plots easier to develop than back gardens in East Sussex?
Often, because a new home on a corner or side plot usually has its own frontage and drive. But the council will look closely at the street scene, the building line and visibility at the junction. Some corners were designed to stay open, and that can count against a new home.
How much is a garden plot in East Sussex worth?
It depends on location, size, access, title and, above all, planning. Two similar gardens in the same street can be worth very different amounts if one has easy access and the other doesn’t. We don’t quote figures before we’ve looked at a plot properly; the free appraisal is the way to find out.