A collective bid to boost garden space on a Cotswold village estate near Wotton-under-Edge will rest upon agreement from planners.

Homeowners in Lovetts Way, which was permitted as a "rural exception" in 2017 are asking Stroud District Council for permission to annex disused farm land which abuts the ends of their gardens.

The 17-home estate on Hawkesbury Road was a greenfield development with sales – some in excess of £1m – completed by rural agents David James in 2022. The estate was built amid some local opposition against a claimed loss of farmland on the southern fringe of Hillesley village.

Owners of numbers 14 to 18 now want to extend their gardens into open farmland which looks west towards Wickwar and Inglestone Common, the request taking in several metres of ground which would be landscaped, turfed and planted with trees. Detailed plans have been submitted for fence designs.

Although the application is for change of use on agricultural land, the land, which belongs to the the Bath-based original developer APS Homes, is currently unused.

Applicant Sarah Haycocks, of number 16, told planners: "House numbers 14-18 are intending to purchase additional land from APS Homes... The land aforementioned is within APS ownership. There is a covenant on the land to prohibit building works, we seek to fence and plant turf and plants/trees."

Lawyers Field Seymour Parkes recently issued a report on the growing trend of rural homes requesting extra green space - and said such moves are now a trend.

Real estate lawyer Kelsie Essenhigh said: "The Covid-19 pandemic has seen a marked increase in the number of people wanting more space. The increased competition in the housing market has meant that finding the perfect home with the right size garden can be difficult. If you are fortunate enough to live in a more rural setting, you might be considering extending your garden by purchasing adjoining agricultural or paddock land."

Costs, she added, can be prohibitive: "You should expect to pay a premium over and above the agricultural value of the land. There may well be other costs, such as VAT or agreeing to make a contribution towards the seller's legal and surveyor's costs. This is in addition to your own costs and any Stamp Duty Land Tax."

Land used for agricultural purposes will often be subject to planning and rural protection policies, she added.

A public right of way which runs through the land requested for annexation will not be affected by the requested change, the applicant said.

● Research last May from Savills into how garden size affects property suggests buyers will typically pay £353 per sq ft for outdoor space in the UK's top 10% of property locations. The value of garden areas falls to  £216 per sq ft for the bottom 10%.