- Nation
- England
- National planning policy
- NPPF
- Planning authorities
- 10
- City
- Exeter
What to know in Devon
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 Devon, 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 Devon include East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council, Mid Devon District Council, North Devon Council, Plymouth City Council, South Hams District Council, Teignbridge District Council, Torbay Council, Torridge District Council, West Devon Borough 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 Devon
- Plymouth
- Exeter
- Paignton
- Torquay
- Newton Abbot
- Exmouth
- Barnstaple
- Bideford
- Tiverton
- Brixham
- Teignmouth
- Tavistock
Questions about sell your garden plot in Devon
Is there tax to pay on selling part of a garden in Devon?
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.
How long does it take to sell a garden plot in Devon?
Most of the time goes on the legal work. Once an offer is agreed, solicitors usually need a few months to deal with the transfer of part, the lender’s release and the title checks. Covenants, unclear boundaries or a disputed access are what usually stretch it.
Which council decides planning for a garden plot in Devon?
The local planning authority for your address decides. Across Devon, the authorities include East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council, Mid Devon District Council, North Devon Council, Plymouth City Council and other councils, 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.
How much is a garden plot in Devon 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.