- Nation
- England
- National planning policy
- NPPF
- Planning authorities
- 2
- County town
- Dorchester
What to know in Dorset
Rights of way are often the hidden issue on landlocked plots in Dorset. A right in an old deed may cover foot access only, or one house, or agricultural use. A right gained by long use generally only covers the kind of use that created it. Before any planning money is spent, we ask your solicitor to confirm what the title says, who owns each part of the route, and whether a ransom strip sits anywhere along it.
Planning authorities covering Dorset include BCP Council, Dorset Council.
How it works
Free plot appraisal
We start with the access, not the plot: title plans, rights of way, the width on the ground and the route to the road. It’s a desktop check and a conversation, with a site visit if it looks viable, at no cost.
Title and access check
With your solicitor we confirm who owns every strip between the plot and the road, what rights already exist and whether they cover a new home. Any ransom strip or missing right shows up at this stage.
Secure the way in
If a right of way needs widening, a strip needs buying or a neighbour needs to come in, we agree the approach with you and negotiate it, so the terms are settled before planning money is spent.
Planning application
We design a layout that answers the access, privacy and neighbour questions councils ask about tandem and backland plots, then apply. The council consults neighbours and decides, and the decision is always the council’s.
Sale or build
Depending on the route you chose, the sale completes through a transfer of part, or you keep the land and we give a written quote for building the new home after design and survey.
Tandem and landlocked plots in towns across Dorset
Questions about tandem and landlocked plots in Dorset
Can landlocked land in Dorset ever be built on?
Yes, if a legal access can be secured. That might mean buying a strip, agreeing a right of way, using a back lane, or combining with a neighbour. Planning permission alone doesn’t give a right to cross someone else’s land.
What does a free appraisal cover for a plot with difficult access in Dorset?
It looks at the title plan, existing rights of way, who owns each part of the route, the width on the ground and the planning picture. We begin from maps, the title and the planning record, talk it over with you, and only then visit if the land seems workable. You pay nothing and owe nothing.
How wide must a drive be for a new home in Dorset?
There’s no single figure. In England, fire guidance looks for a route about 3.7 metres wide with 3.1-metre gateways, or other measures, often sprinklers, agreed with building control and the fire service. In Wales, sprinklers are required in all new houses. Highways and bin collection add their own checks.
How much is a garden plot in Dorset worth?
It depends on location, size, access, title and, above all, planning. Two similar gardens in the same street can be worth very different amounts if one has easy access and the other doesn’t. We don’t quote figures before we’ve looked at a plot properly; the free appraisal is the way to find out.