- Nation
- England
- National planning policy
- NPPF
- Planning authorities
- 7
- City
- Gloucester
What to know in Gloucestershire
Drainage and wildlife often shape garden plots in Gloucestershire more than owners expect. A new home needs somewhere for rainwater and foul water to go, and you will need a drainage plan the council will want to see. Mature gardens can matter for wildlife, so expect biodiversity net gain rules to come into the design, along with tree surveys where large trees stand near the proposed home or drive. Public sewers crossing the garden may need a build-over agreement with the water company. None of this is a reason to give up, but it is a reason to survey before designing.
Planning authorities covering Gloucestershire include Cheltenham Borough Council, Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Gloucester City Council, South Gloucestershire Council, Stroud District Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council.
How it works
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.
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.
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.
Planning application
We prepare the drawings and reports, usually take pre-application advice, and submit. The council consults neighbours and decides. Small schemes often take a few months from submission, longer if surveys or amendments are needed.
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.
Large rear gardens in towns across Gloucestershire
Questions about large rear gardens in Gloucestershire
Is planning policy for back gardens the same across Gloucestershire?
No. National policy, the NPPF, applies everywhere, but each council adds its own plan and design guidance. Separation distances, garden sizes and parking standards can all differ. That’s why we never quote one rule for a whole county and always check the policies for your address.
Can neighbours combine their gardens in Gloucestershire?
Yes. Several adjoining back gardens can be put together for one scheme with a shared access, which can give a better layout than separate plots. Each owner keeps their own house, and an agreement shares the value fairly even when only one garden provides the way in.
Do you look at large rear gardens in Gloucestershire?
Yes. We cover the whole of Gloucestershire, as part of our coverage across England and Wales. Send us your address and a few details about your garden, and we’ll carry out a free desktop appraisal before suggesting a site visit.
Do I need my own solicitor to sell a plot in Gloucestershire?
Yes, always. Your solicitor checks the contract, deals with the transfer of part at HM Land Registry and asks your mortgage lender to release the plot if the house is mortgaged. On option and promotion agreements we cover your reasonable legal fees, with the cap agreed in heads of terms before work starts.