- Planning authority
- Exeter City Council
- Postcodes
- EX1, EX2, EX3, EX4
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 39°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.1 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Devon
How it plays out in Exeter
Garage blocks behind homes vary from a few lock-ups off a short drive to long courts serving whole streets, and a site in EX1, EX2, EX3 and EX4 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 Exeter, in places like Exmouth, Teignmouth and Tiverton, 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
A garage enquiry from Exeter can open with a phone call and a handful of photos showing the court, the lane and the roofs. We then run a desktop check and visit if the site deserves it. Sellers move on to heads of terms, handled by their solicitor; owners who want to build move on to surveys, design and a written quote.
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.
Site checks and layout
We look at the access lane, the buildings, likely asbestos and contamination, drains and neighbours’ windows, then sketch what could realistically fit, from one home to a small group, or nothing at all.
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.
Worth checking early
- A narrow or unadopted lane can restrict the number of homes, or require sprinklers, a turning space or bin collection point.
- Rights of way over the court or lane can limit what you can build, and some arise from long use rather than the title.
- Neighbours whose gardens back onto the court are consulted and may object; the council decides.
Exeter: questions to ask
Will you buy my garages in Exeter with tenants in them?
Possibly. Any purchase is subject to survey, title and contract, with or without planning in place. Existing tenancies and licences must be brought to an end properly under their own terms, and when that happens forms part of the agreed deal. Get legal advice before any notice is served.
Is the lane to my Exeter garages wide enough?
It depends on the lane, the number of homes and local highway standards. The council will look at width, visibility at the street and the effect on neighbours. Fire and bin access matter too. A narrow lane may limit the number of homes rather than ruling the site out.
Who has the final say on a Exeter garage court scheme?
Exeter City 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.
What does it cost to have my Exeter 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.
Other options in Exeter
- Plot feasibility and design
- Sell part of your garden
- Garden plot option agreement
- Sell subject to planning
- Large rear gardens
- Corner and side plots