- Planning authority
- Folkestone and Hythe District Council
- Postcodes
- CT18, CT19, CT20
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 39°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.2 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Kent
The local picture in Folkestone
Light is a real test on side plots because the new home sits so close to existing ones. In midwinter the noon sun in Folkestone is only around 15° above the horizon, so even a modest roof can shade a neighbour’s side windows or garden for long periods.
Councils, including Folkestone and Hythe District Council, look at daylight and sunlight to existing homes when deciding applications. A lower eaves line, a hipped roof or a slightly wider gap at the side can make the difference, and we test those options before the drawings are finalised.
What happens next in Folkestone
After you contact us about a side or corner plot in Folkestone, we start with a desktop check: maps, the title plan, street views and nearby planning history. We then call to talk through what you want. If the plot looks viable, we visit, measure the street and check the drive position. You get a plain summary of the options, with no obligation.
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.
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.
Worth checking early
- A new drive close to a junction may not be acceptable to the highway authority, which can force a different layout.
- Losing a side garden or drive changes how your house works day to day, from parking to getting bins round the back.
- The council decides, and neighbours are consulted; a sensible design can still be refused or need changes.
Your questions, answered for Folkestone
Can I build a house on my corner plot in Folkestone?
Possibly, if a new home would respect the building lines, keep the corner feeling open enough and allow safe visibility for drivers. It needs planning permission, and Folkestone and Hythe District Council decides. Our free appraisal tells you whether your corner is worth taking further.
Will a new drive near the corner be allowed in Folkestone?
Only if drivers would have a clear enough view of the road and the junction stays safe. The highway authority comments on this and controls new dropped kerbs. Drives very close to a corner are often resisted, so we check the position on site before designing.
Can I attach a new home to my house in Folkestone?
Yes, where it suits the street, for example on the end of a semi-detached pair. It needs planning permission as a separate home, fire and sound separation under Building Regulations, and possibly a party wall agreement. We check whether attached or detached fits your road better.
Which body approves a new home on a side plot in Folkestone?
The planning decision belongs to Folkestone and Hythe District Council. It checks the proposal against the council’s Local Plan, national policy and its own design guidance, and asks neighbours and the highway authority for their views first. Our role is to prepare and submit a strong application; approval or refusal is the council’s call alone.
Other options in Folkestone
- Tandem and landlocked plots
- Bungalows on large plots
- Sell part of your garden
- Build a new home in your garden
- Combine gardens with your neighbours
- Planning permission for a garden plot