- Planning authority
- Wokingham Borough Council
- Postcodes
- RG2, RG6, RG41
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 39°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.3 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Berkshire
What shapes a plot in Earley
Garage blocks behind homes vary from a few lock-ups off a short drive to long courts serving whole streets, and a site in RG2, RG6 and RG41 could be either. The size of the site, the width of the lane and how many neighbours back onto it decide what could fit, not the number of garages.
Owners just outside Earley, in places like Woodley, Reading and Wokingham, face the same questions. We look at the lane, the rights over it and the distance to neighbouring windows first, then sketch options from a single home to a small group.
From first call to decision
Tell us where the garages or yard are in Earley and how the land is used now. From there we review Wokingham Borough Council’s policies, past applications close by and the title, looking for rights of way, covenants and charges. If nothing stands in the way, we’ll arrange to meet you on site and walk the lane and the court together.
Free site appraisal
We look at the site on maps, the title plan and the planning history, then talk through who uses it now. If it looks workable we visit. There’s no cost and no obligation.
Rights and title review
We map who has rights over the court and lane, which garages are let and on what terms, and whether any covenants, charges or strips of land you don’t own could block a scheme.
Choose your route
Sell the site outright or subject to planning, grant an option, or keep it and have us design, get planning for and build. Garage tenancies and licences are ended properly before any work starts.
Planning, then sale or build
We prepare and submit the application and the council decides. If you sell, your solicitor handles the transfer. If you build, a written quote follows design and survey, then demolition and construction.
Worth checking early
- Asbestos, contamination and bat surveys add cost and time before demolition can start.
- Ending garage tenancies or licences takes time, and some tenants may have legal protection; get legal advice before serving notice.
- A narrow or unadopted lane can restrict the number of homes, or require sprinklers, a turning space or bin collection point.
Your questions, answered for Earley
Can I build houses on my garage block in Earley?
Possibly, if the lane works for cars, bins and emergency access, neighbours’ privacy and light are protected, and rights over the site can be dealt with. Homes there need planning permission, which is Wokingham Borough Council’s decision. A free appraisal shows whether the site merits going further.
What does it cost to have my Earley garage site assessed?
Nothing. Our assessment is free, with no obligation. We review the title, maps and planning history and speak to you before deciding whether a visit is worthwhile. You’re only committed after choosing a route and agreeing terms set out in writing.
Who has the final say on a Earley garage court scheme?
Wokingham Borough Council, as the local planning authority. Officers weigh the scheme against the council’s Local Plan and national policy, plus highways and design guidance, after hearing from neighbours and the highway authority. We put the application together and answer the officer’s questions, yet the verdict is never ours to give.
Can neighbours in Earley block a garage court scheme?
Neighbours are consulted and can object, and those with a legal right of way over the court have rights the scheme must respect. Objections alone don’t decide the outcome. We map every right first and design to keep routes open where they are needed.
Other options in Earley
- Planning promotion for your garden plot
- Sell part of your garden
- Joint venture on your garden plot
- Garden plot option agreement
- Combine gardens with your neighbours
- Tandem and landlocked plots