- Nation
- England
- National planning policy
- NPPF
- Planning authorities
- 1
- City
- Bristol
Bristol: the planning picture
A garden plot sells most easily when the planning case is straightforward: a decent width of access, enough depth to keep sensible gaps between back windows, and a street where a home behind a home wouldn’t look out of place. Plots that miss one of these can still work, but they need more design, sometimes a neighbour’s cooperation, and a price that reflects the extra risk. Wherever you are in Bristol, the council’s own guidance sets the detail, and biodiversity net gain rules, drainage and protected trees can each add a layer of work.
Planning authorities covering Bristol include Bristol City Council.
How it works
Free plot appraisal
Tell us about your garden. We check the title plan, access, local policy and planning history from our desk, then talk it through with you. If it looks viable, we arrange a site visit, with no cost and no obligation.
Written offer and heads of terms
We put our offer in writing, subject to survey, title and contract. Heads of terms then record the plot boundary, the price, access rights, who pays which costs and the rough timetable for each stage.
Solicitors and lender
Your solicitor prepares the transfer of part and asks your mortgage lender to release the plot. Ours checks the title, covenants, rights of way and searches, while surveys of trees, ground and drainage run alongside.
Exchange and completion
Once both sides are satisfied, contracts are exchanged and a completion date is fixed. On completion the money passes through the solicitors and HM Land Registry registers the plot under a new title of its own.
After the sale
Any boundary fence or access works agreed in the transfer are carried out as set out. If the plot still needs planning, we apply as the new owner, and you can see and comment on the plans like any other neighbour.
Sell your garden plot in towns across Bristol
Questions about sell your garden plot in Bristol
Which council decides planning for a garden plot in Bristol?
The local planning authority for your address decides. Across Bristol, the authorities include Bristol City Council, working to Local Plan policies alongside the NPPF. Policies on garden land can differ from one authority to the next, so we always check the ones that apply to your street.
Is there tax to pay on selling part of a garden in Bristol?
There can be. Private Residence Relief can cover part of a garden sold while you still own and live in the house, within a permitted area. Selling after you’ve moved out, or developing the plot yourself, can change that. It depends on your circumstances, so take advice from a tax adviser before agreeing a sale.
Do you need planning permission to sell land behind a house in Bristol?
No. Planning permission isn’t needed to sell land, only to build a new home on it. We buy plots outright without planning when the appraisal shows a realistic prospect, and we also buy plots that already have permission. Either way, the purchase is subject to survey, title and contract.
Can neighbours in Bristol combine their gardens?
Yes. Putting two or more adjoining back gardens together can allow one shared access and a better layout than separate plots. Each owner keeps their house. The owners usually sign a collaboration agreement, with an equalisation clause so that value is shared fairly even though only one garden provides the access. Each household should take its own legal advice.