- Planning authority
- Wakefield Council
- Postcodes
- WF5
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 36°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.8 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- West Yorkshire
How it plays out in Ossett
Overshadowing is one of the first things a planning officer checks on a garden scheme. In Ossett, the spring equinox sun reaches only about 36° at midday, which means a 5 m eaves line lays down a shadow around 6.8 m long. Come the shortest day, the sun climbs no higher than roughly 13° and the shade stretches far beyond that.
We model those shadows when we design the scheme, because a home that keeps light off your windows and the neighbours’ gardens is easier for Wakefield Council to approve. Sometimes that means a lower roof or a home set further back.
From first call to decision
Here is what to expect in Ossett. First a phone call, then a desk check of the title and the council’s Local Plan, then a visit if the plot looks promising. If we both want to go ahead, heads of terms set out what we would agree, without obligation, before solicitors draft the conditional contract. The appraisal costs nothing.
Free plot appraisal
We check your title, access, planning history and local policy from our desk, then talk it through with you. If a new home looks realistic, we visit the garden and tell you which route we think suits it best.
Heads of terms
We set out the price or price formula, what counts as satisfactory permission, the long-stop date, how any planning costs are treated and who pays which fees. You see all of it before instructing a solicitor.
Exchange of conditional contracts
Both solicitors agree the contract and the plan of the plot. On exchange, both sides are bound, subject to the planning condition, and our contract is noted on your title so the plot can’t be sold elsewhere.
Planning application
We commission the surveys, prepare the drawings, seek pre-application advice where useful and submit the application, normally at our cost. You see the plans before they go in, and the council makes the decision.
Worth checking early
- The definition of satisfactory permission and the long-stop date decide how certain the sale really is; read both closely.
- The plot can’t be sold to anyone else while the contract runs, even if another offer comes along.
- You wait for a planning decision, and possibly an appeal, before you are paid.
Ossett: questions to ask
Is a sale subject to planning in Ossett better than an option?
It depends on the plot. A conditional sale binds both sides from exchange and suits a single plot with a clear scheme. An option gives us a right to buy rather than an obligation, and suits plots where the outcome is less certain or the timescale is longer. We’ll recommend one after the appraisal.
Will my neighbours in Ossett be told about the application?
Yes. Wakefield Council publicises applications through letters to neighbours, a site notice, or both, depending on its practice. Neighbours can comment, and the council weighs their views against planning policy. You can choose whether to speak to adjoining owners before the application goes in, and we’ll fit in with what you prefer.
How long might a sale subject to planning take in Ossett?
It usually runs for months, sometimes longer. Exchange often takes a few months; surveys and drawings take a few more; and the Planning Portal says most applications are decided within eight weeks of being valid, though garden schemes can take longer. The long-stop date sets the outer limit, agreed with you at the start.
What if I want to sell my Ossett house during a conditional sale?
Tell us as early as you can. The conditional contract is noted on your title, so your house buyer’s solicitor will see it. The two sales can usually be arranged together, but the order matters for the legal work and possibly for Capital Gains Tax, so take advice from a tax adviser too.
Other options in Ossett
- Tandem and landlocked plots
- Large rear gardens
- Garage courts and yards
- Sell part of your garden
- Bungalows on large plots
- Build a home for family in your garden

