Corner Plots, Side Gardens, and Infill Sites: The Most Overlooked Development Opportunities

Some of the best development opportunities in Hemel Hempstead are hiding in plain sight. Corner plots, side gardens, and small infill sites are often overlooked, yet they regularly unlock real value when assessed properly.

Why These Sites Are So Often Missed

Many homeowners assume development means large parcels of land or obvious building plots. In reality, smaller and more subtle sites often prove the most successful.

Because they do not look like traditional development land, they are frequently ignored until someone with local insight spots the potential.

Corner Plots

Corner plots are among the most versatile opportunities available. With frontage on two sides, they often allow better access, improved layout options, and designs that sit more comfortably within the street scene.

In Hemel Hempstead, corner plots have quietly delivered some of the most successful single home and pair developments in established neighbourhoods.

Side Gardens and Wide Plots

Side gardens are a classic example of hidden potential. A wide plot with unused space to one side can sometimes accommodate an additional home without compromising the original property.

Access, privacy, and spacing are key considerations, but when handled carefully, side gardens can unlock value without dramatic change to the street.

Infill Sites

Infill sites include small gaps between houses, former garage blocks, or unused land within existing residential streets.

Planning authorities often support sensitive infill where it respects scale, design, and local character, making these sites particularly attractive to smaller developers.

What Makes These Opportunities Work

Successful projects usually share a few common traits

• Strong planning precedent nearby
• Clear and safe access
• Designs that reflect surrounding homes
• Realistic expectations on scale and density

Local context matters far more than theoretical potential.

The Bottom Line

The most overlooked development opportunities are often the most achievable. Corner plots, side gardens, and infill sites rarely announce themselves, but with the right assessment, they can deliver excellent results.

If you own a property with unused space in Hemel Hempstead and are curious whether it could work harder for you, the Land and New Homes team at David Doyle can provide straightforward, local advice to help you understand what is genuinely possible.