- Planning authority
- Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
- Postcodes
- B66, B67, B68
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 38°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.5 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- West Midlands
How it plays out in Smethwick
Neighbours matter twice on a landlocked plot. They may own the strip you need to cross, and they’ll be consulted when the application goes in. In Smethwick, as in West Bromwich, Birmingham and Halesowen, a calm, early conversation about a shared access usually goes better than a letter arriving out of the blue.
We can make that approach with you. Any deal on the access is written down first, then the planning case is built to suit the council’s Local Plan and the guidance the council uses.
The next steps, locally
We take a Smethwick plot with tricky access forward in three stages. First the legal access, confirmed with your solicitor. Then a layout that answers the questions Sandwell Metropolitan Borough 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
- A right of way that has served a garage or field for years may not legally cover a new house.
- Planning permission gives no right to cross land you don’t own; the legal access has to be secured separately.
- Long or narrow drives can mean extra cost for sprinklers, passing places, lighting or a bin collection point.
Smethwick: questions to ask
Will Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council accept a shared drive for a new home in Smethwick?
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 do I find out if a lane behind my Smethwick 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.
Can I build behind my house in Smethwick if the only way in is my drive?
Possibly. That would be a tandem layout, with the new home behind yours sharing your drive. Sandwell Metropolitan Borough 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.
How long does sorting access on a Smethwick 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.
Other options in Smethwick
- Planning permission for a garden plot
- Build a new home in your garden
- Planning promotion for your garden plot
- Plot feasibility and design
- Joint venture on your garden plot
- Combine gardens with your neighbours