- Planning authority
- Tandridge District Council
- Postcodes
- CR3
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 39°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.2 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Surrey
The local picture in Caterham
Light is a real test on side plots because the new home sits so close to existing ones. In midwinter the noon sun in Caterham 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 Tandridge 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.
The next steps, locally
An enquiry about a side plot in Caterham can begin with a quick call and a couple of photos of the side of your house and the street. We follow up with a desktop appraisal and, if it’s promising, a site visit. If you sell, heads of terms come next and your solicitor takes over. If you build, we move to survey and design, then a written quote.
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.
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.
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.
- Corners kept open by design can be harder to build on than they look; character can matter more than space.
Caterham: questions to ask
Which body approves a new home on a side plot in Caterham?
The planning decision belongs to Tandridge 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.
Is there a fee for checking my side plot in Caterham?
There’s no fee. The appraisal is free and you’re under no obligation. We work from maps, the title and a phone call first, and only visit if the plot seems worth it. Nothing binds you until you’ve picked a route and read the written terms.
Can I attach a new home to my house in Caterham?
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.
Can I build a house on my corner plot in Caterham?
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 Tandridge District Council decides. Our free appraisal tells you whether your corner is worth taking further.
Other options in Caterham
- Plot feasibility and design
- Garden plot option agreement
- Garage courts and yards
- Build a new home in your garden
- Bungalows on large plots
- Sell part of your garden