Backland Development
0800 088 6248Free to call Free plot appraisal

Building in a large rear garden in Driffield

If you have a long rear garden in Driffield, the first question is usually the obvious one: is there really room for a house down there? The honest answer comes from measuring, not guessing. Separation from existing back windows, garden space for both homes and a drive that works for cars, bins and emergency access all have to fit.

Once we know what could realistically go there, you pick the route that suits you. Some owners prefer a clean sale of the plot, with or without planning. Others want the new home itself, for a parent, a grown-up child or to let. We handle the design and the planning application either way.

Get a free appraisalCheck my garden
Overhead view of three long, narrow back gardens with lawns, a greenhouse, vegetable beds and sheds
Planning authority
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Postcodes
YO25
Noon sun, 21 March
About 36°
Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
About 6.9 m
Planning plan
Local Plan
County
East Riding of Yorkshire

How it plays out in Driffield

Overshadowing is often the deciding issue in a long garden. At midday on 21 March the sun in Driffield stands about 36° above the horizon, so a typical two-storey eaves line throws a shadow of roughly 6.9 m. In midwinter the noon sun is only about 13° up and shadows stretch around three times as far.

That’s why the gap between a new home and neighbouring gardens matters, and why a lower roof, or a home set further from the boundary, can make a scheme acceptable. We check the shadows on your actual plot rather than relying on rules of thumb.

Section showing noon sun and shadows in Driffield: about 36 degrees on 21 March and 13 degrees on 21 December21 m21 Mar, noon: sun 36°, shadow 6.9 m21 Dec, noon: sun 13°, shadow 22.5 mExistingNew home
This section is worked out for the latitude of Driffield: around 36° of sun at midday in late March and about 13° at midwinter. It shows why the gap between your house and a new home behind it is about light as well as privacy. Garden assumed to face north.

How we’d take it forward in Driffield

Once you’ve had the free appraisal, nothing moves without your say-so. For a sale, terms are agreed in writing before you sign anything. For a build, design and survey come first and the quote follows. In both cases the planning application goes to East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which consults your neighbours before deciding. Small schemes often take a few months from submission, and surveys or design changes can add more.

  1. Free plot appraisal

    We look at your garden using maps, the title plan and the planning history around you, then talk it through with you. If it looks workable we arrange a site visit. There’s no cost and no obligation.

  2. Measure and test the layout

    We check depth, the width of the way in, levels, trees, drains and what lies behind, then sketch what could realistically fit: one home, two, or nothing worth pursuing, before anyone pays for an application.

  3. Choose your route

    You decide whether to sell the plot outright, sell subject to planning, grant an option, team up with neighbours, or keep the land and have us design, get planning for and build a home on it.

  4. Sale or build

    If you sell, your solicitor handles the transfer of part and your lender’s release of the plot. If you build, we give a written quote after design and survey, then build and hand over the new home.

Worth checking early

  • Neighbours are consulted and may object. The council decides, and a carefully designed scheme can still be refused.
  • Cars passing beside your house to reach the new home bring noise and headlights; screening helps but doesn’t remove it.
  • A shorter garden changes how your own house feels to live in and may affect what it is worth.

Your questions, answered for Driffield

Can I build a house in my back garden in Driffield?

Possibly, if the garden is deep enough, has a safe way in and a new home wouldn’t harm the neighbours or the character of the street. A new separate home always needs planning permission, and East Riding of Yorkshire Council makes the decision. A free appraisal will tell you whether your garden is worth taking further.

How do I find out if my Driffield garden is big enough for a house?

Ask for a free garden plot appraisal. We measure depth and the width of the way in, check what lies behind, look at levels, trees and drainage, and compare your garden with your council’s separation and garden-size guidance. Size alone rarely settles it, because access and neighbours’ privacy matter just as much.

Will my neighbours in Driffield get a say?

Yes. The council consults neighbours on planning applications, and they can comment or object. Their comments are weighed alongside policy, but objections alone don’t decide the outcome. A layout that respects privacy, light and access usually gives neighbours less to worry about, so we design with them in mind.

How long does planning take for a garden home in Driffield?

It varies. Small schemes often take a few months from submission to decision, and longer if surveys, amendments or extra consultation are needed. Pre-application advice and early surveys add time at the start but can save time later. We won’t promise a date, because the council sets the pace.

Other options in Driffield

Large rear gardens near Driffield

Find out what your garden could become

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

Get my free appraisal 0800 088 6248