- Planning authority
- Gravesham Borough Council
- Postcodes
- DA10, DA11, DA12
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 39°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.3 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Kent
Gravesend: light, access and policy
Garage blocks behind homes vary from a few lock-ups off a short drive to long courts serving whole streets, and a site in DA10, DA11 and DA12 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 Gravesend, in places like Swanscombe, Grays and Longfield, 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.
What happens next in Gravesend
Tell us where the garages or yard are in Gravesend and how the land is used now. From there we review Gravesham 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.
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.
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
- Ending garage tenancies or licences takes time, and some tenants may have legal protection; get legal advice before serving notice.
- If garage income stops before a sale or build completes, you lose that income in the meantime.
- Asbestos, contamination and bat surveys add cost and time before demolition can start.
Gravesend: questions to ask
What does it cost to have my Gravesend 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 Gravesend?
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 Gravesham Borough Council’s decision. A free appraisal shows whether the site merits going further.
Who has the final say on a Gravesend garage court scheme?
Gravesham 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 you build homes on my yard in Gravesend if I keep it?
Yes. You keep ownership while we handle the lot: surveys, demolition of the old buildings, design, the planning application, construction and the structural warranty that buyers’ lenders tend to need. A written quote is given once design and survey are complete; guide prices before then are only guides.
Other options in Gravesend
- Large rear gardens
- Build a new home in your garden
- Joint venture on your garden plot
- Planning permission for a garden plot
- Corner and side plots
- Garden plot option agreement