- Planning authority
- Birmingham City Council
- Postcodes
- B1, B2, B3, B4, B5
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 38°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.5 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- West Midlands
The local picture in Birmingham
A home placed behind another changes the light as well as the traffic. In Birmingham the sun peaks at roughly 38° in late March and barely 14° at the winter solstice, so shadows from even a modest building stretch a long way across a garden in the darker months.
That is why many tandem schemes use a single-storey or low-eaves design. It keeps upstairs windows from looking over neighbours and limits shadow. Birmingham City Council decides, and its own guidance on separation distances sets the gaps it expects.
From first call to decision
We take a Birmingham plot with tricky access forward in three stages. First the legal access, confirmed with your solicitor. Then a layout that answers the questions Birmingham City Council asks about tandem and backland homes. Then the route you chose, whether that’s a sale, an option or a build. You can stop at any stage before signing.
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.
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.
Worth checking early
- Long or narrow drives can mean extra cost for sprinklers, passing places, lighting or a bin collection point.
- Buying out a ransom strip or a neighbour’s land costs money and time, and the other owner can say no.
- A right of way that has served a garage or field for years may not legally cover a new house.
Birmingham: questions to ask
Can I build behind my house in Birmingham if the only way in is my drive?
Possibly. That would be a tandem layout, with the new home behind yours sharing your drive. Birmingham City 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.
Could my neighbour and I in Birmingham share one new access?
Often, yes. If both your gardens are long, combining them can give one shared drive and a better layout than either garden alone. Each owner keeps their house, and a written agreement sets out how the value is shared fairly.
How do I find out if a lane behind my Birmingham 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.
Will Birmingham City Council accept a shared drive for a new home in Birmingham?
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.
Other options in Birmingham
- Planning permission for a garden plot
- Combine gardens with your neighbours
- Bungalows on large plots
- Corner and side plots
- Sell subject to planning
- Build a home for family in your garden