- Planning authority
- London Borough of Newham
- Postcodes
- E6, E7, E12, E13, E15
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 38°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.3 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Greater London
Newham: light, access and policy
Homes on a garage court in Newham usually sit close to neighbouring gardens on several sides. In December the sun at midday gets no higher than about 15°, so a tall building near a boundary can leave those gardens in shade for much of the winter.
Low, carefully placed homes avoid most of that. Mews-style homes with windows facing along the court, or bungalows set back from the boundaries, often answer the overlooking and light questions the London Borough of Newham is likely to raise. We test each option against your site before anything is drawn in detail.
From first call to decision
From here the pace is yours. A sale only proceeds once heads of terms are in writing and you’re happy with them; a build only proceeds once surveys, design and a written quote are in front of you. Garage tenancies are brought to an end under their own terms, on legal advice. The London Borough of Newham then consults neighbours on the application and makes the decision.
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
- Neighbours whose gardens back onto the court are consulted and may object; the council decides.
- If garage income stops before a sale or build completes, you lose that income in the meantime.
- A narrow or unadopted lane can restrict the number of homes, or require sprinklers, a turning space or bin collection point.
Newham: questions to ask
Will you buy my garages in Newham 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.
What does it cost to have my Newham 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.
Can I build houses on my garage block in Newham?
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 the London Borough of Newham’s decision. A free appraisal shows whether the site merits going further.
Who has the final say on a Newham garage court scheme?
The London Borough of Newham, 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.
Other options in Newham
- Large rear gardens
- Combine gardens with your neighbours
- Garden plot option agreement
- Build a home for family in your garden
- Planning promotion for your garden plot
- Build a new home in your garden