Backland Development
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New homes on garage courts and yards in Lichfield

If you own a block of lock-ups, an old yard or a large garage behind houses in Lichfield, the land may suit new homes. Whether it does depends on the access lane, who has rights over the site, what the old buildings are made of and how close neighbours’ windows are.

We look at sites like yours free of charge. If it stacks up, you might sell the land, with or without planning, or keep it and have the homes designed, approved and built for you. We’re new, part of the S&K Group, and we’ll be honest if the site isn’t viable.

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Row of old lock-up garages in a tarmac court behind a terrace of brick houses
Planning authority
Lichfield District Council
Postcodes
WS13, WS14
Noon sun, 21 March
About 37°
Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
About 6.6 m
Planning plan
Local Plan
County
Staffordshire

How it plays out in Lichfield

Homes on a garage court in Lichfield usually sit close to neighbouring gardens on several sides. In December the sun at midday gets no higher than about 14°, 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 Lichfield District Council is likely to raise. We test each option against your site before anything is drawn in detail.

Section showing noon sun and shadows in Lichfield: about 37 degrees on 21 March and 14 degrees on 21 December21 m21 Mar, noon: sun 37°, shadow 6.6 m21 Dec, noon: sun 14°, shadow 20.2 mExistingNew home
Noon sun in Lichfield on 21 March sits about 37° above the horizon, so a typical two-storey eaves line (about 5 m) throws a shadow of roughly 6.6 m. In December the sun is only about 14° up and shadows stretch much further. Drawn for a garden facing north, where it matters most.

How we’d take it forward in Lichfield

Tell us where the garages or yard are in Lichfield and how the land is used now. From there we review Lichfield District 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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.
  • Rights of way over the court or lane can limit what you can build, and some arise from long use rather than the title.

Lichfield: questions to ask

Will you buy my garages in Lichfield 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.

Can I build houses on my garage block in Lichfield?

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 Lichfield District Council’s decision. A free appraisal shows whether the site merits going further.

Who has the final say on a Lichfield garage court scheme?

Lichfield District 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.

Is the lane to my Lichfield 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.

Other options in Lichfield

Garage courts and yards near Lichfield

Find out what your garden could become

Free garden plot appraisal. No cost, no obligation, and a straight answer if it won’t work.

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