Backland Development
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Tandem and landlocked plots in Folkestone

Land behind a house in Folkestone with no easy way in can still become a building plot, but only once the access is sorted. That might be a shared drive, a strip of a neighbour’s garden, a lane at the back, or a right of way that needs widening.

Before anything else, we look at the access. The free appraisal checks the title plan, existing rights, the width on the ground and the route to the road, then the planning picture with Folkestone and Hythe District Council. If the access can’t be made to work on sensible terms, we say so before you spend anything.

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Narrow gravel drive running between two brick houses to an open gate and a garden plot behind
Planning authority
Folkestone and Hythe District Council
Postcodes
CT18, CT19, CT20
Noon sun, 21 March
About 39°
Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
About 6.2 m
Planning plan
Local Plan
County
Kent

What shapes a plot in Folkestone

Access to land behind homes in CT18, CT19 and CT20 can differ from one street to the next: a side drive, a garage with a gap beside it, a back lane, or nothing at all. That is why we measure the actual route rather than relying on a map.

Folkestone and Hythe District Council will consult neighbours on any application, and the people living along the drive are the ones most affected. A layout that keeps cars away from their windows, with a fence or planting alongside, usually answers the strongest objections before they’re made.

Section showing noon sun and shadows in Folkestone: about 39 degrees on 21 March and 15 degrees on 21 December21 m21 Mar, noon: sun 39°, shadow 6.2 m21 Dec, noon: sun 15°, shadow 18.1 mExistingNew home
Noon sun in Folkestone on 21 March sits about 39° above the horizon, so a typical two-storey eaves line (about 5 m) throws a shadow of roughly 6.2 m. In December the sun is only about 15° up and shadows stretch much further. Drawn for a garden facing north, where it matters most.

What happens next in Folkestone

Call us or use the form and tell us roughly where the land is and how you reach it now. We check the title and the planning history around Folkestone, then come back to you. If the access can’t be secured on sensible terms, we’ll say so plainly and early, and there is nothing to pay for the appraisal.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Worth checking early

  • Planning permission gives no right to cross land you don’t own; the legal access has to be secured separately.
  • Buying out a ransom strip or a neighbour’s land costs money and time, and the other owner can say no.
  • Long or narrow drives can mean extra cost for sprinklers, passing places, lighting or a bin collection point.

Folkestone: questions to ask

Can I build behind my house in Folkestone if the only way in is my drive?

Possibly. That would be a tandem layout, with the new home behind yours sharing your drive. Folkestone and Hythe District Council will look at the effect of cars passing your house, privacy, garden space and whether it suits the area. Fire and bin access also need checking. The decision is the council’s, and a good design improves the odds.

Will Folkestone and Hythe District Council accept a shared drive for a new home in Folkestone?

It can, but shared drives are looked at closely. The council will consider the width, visibility at the road, the effect on the house beside the drive, and whether fire and bin access work. A drive with a clear gap from windows and screening alongside generally fares better.

How long does sorting access on a Folkestone plot usually take?

It varies. Confirming an existing right of way can take a few weeks of solicitor time. Negotiating with a neighbour or a ransom strip owner often takes longer, and depends on how quickly everyone agrees and takes advice. Once we’ve seen the title and the route, we can give you a sensible estimate.

How do I find out if a lane behind my Folkestone home is a public road?

The highway authority keeps a list of streets maintained at public expense, and anyone can inspect it free of charge. If the lane isn’t on it, it’s probably private, and you’ll need to know who owns it and whether your title gives a vehicle right of way that would cover a new home.

Other options in Folkestone

Tandem and landlocked plots near Folkestone

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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