Help please: do I need planning permission to build a new fence?

[Kath Berry]

Hello,

I need your help. Do you know if I need planning permission to build a new fence out the front of our house? As one does not exist there (ie we're not 'replacing' one) a neighbour mentioned it might need approval... ?

I am a little frustrated as I tried telephoning Southwark council all afternoon - with a "busy" signal, and at 4pm there was an answering machine message to say to call back tomorrow - (messages couldn't be recorded).

So I have gone on their website only to find the link for "need planning permission?" (here http://www.southwark.gov.uk/site/scripts/google_results.php?q=planning) seems to be broken. Grrr.

Hence turning to the trusty EDF for all of my solutions ; )

Thanks!

KWB

[DirtyBox]

if it's a normal waist height fence then I think it's ok, if you are planning a 12ft razor wired topped security perimeter then that's a different issue

[motorbird83]

Here is guidance on gates and fences. Just google planning portal for any queries you have

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/fenceswallsgates/

[red devil]

Try this link... http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/fenceswallsgates/

You beat me to it mb83 :)

[Kath Berry]

Awesome - thanks both! Much appreciate the speedy reply. However I am still confused...

Care of motorbird83 and red devil I have learned this:

Fences, gates and garden walls- Planning Permission

You will need to applytgy for planning permission if you wish to erect or add to a fence, wall or gate and: it would be over 1 metre high and next to a highway used by vehicles (or the footpath of such a highway); or over 2 metres high elsewhere;

So when I searched for the definition of a "highway" it appears to be any road...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway

ie - if you're building a front fence (facing the road) then YES you do need permission if you want to make it over 1 meter (3.3 feet) ??

Have I understood this correctly?

KWB

[motorbird83]

I'm speedy red devil :)

[cle]

KWinberry Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Awesome - thanks both! Much appreciate the speedy

> reply. However I am still confused...

>

> Care of motorbird83 and red devil I have learned

> this:

>

> Fences, gates and garden walls- Planning

> Permission

>

> You will need to applytgy for planning permission

> if you wish to erect or add to a fence, wall or

> gate and: it would be over 1 metre high and next

> to a highway used by vehicles (or the footpath of

> such a highway); or over 2 metres high elsewhere;

>

>

> So when I searched for the definition of a

> "highway" it appears to be any road...

>

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway

>

> ie - if you're building a front fence (facing the

> road) then YES you do need permission if you want

> to make it over 1 meter (3.3 feet) ??

>

> Have I understood this correctly?

>

> KWB

Yes. Hence why most people have hedges above that 1 metre - which is a de facto fence of your choice but without any faff.

[Kath Berry]

OK.

A 3ft 33⁄8inch or 100cm fence it is then!

Thank you

[Jeremy]

100m is pretty low.

To be honest if I were you, I'd see if the neighbours are happy with a normal fence. If they are, just go ahead and put one up. If you fall foul of planning (v unlikely anything will actually happen) you can always take it down. It's not like an extension, where the repercussions/costs are much more serious.

[maxxi]

Do you or don't you? - I'm undecided on this one...

[motorbird83]

I think 1m is pretty high for a front garden fence. For a back graden its 2m which is fine. I actually would hate to see a 2m high front garden fence on the types of houses we have around here. Also, front garden walls usually need footings / foundations so not that easy to undo

[Jeremy]

motorbird83 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I think 1m is pretty high

Front fence! Misread the post! Doh!

[James Barber]

Crime Preventrion always says have nothing in your front garden over waist or chest height.

Hedges above this are a gift to burglars and worse.

[edhistory]

So this hinges on the legal definition of "highway".

What is this?

John K

[red devil]

James Barber Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Crime Preventrion always says have nothing in your

> front garden over waist or chest height.

> Hedges above this are a gift to burglars and

> worse.

http://www.securedbydesign.com/aware/index.aspx

[intexasatthe moment]

I think if you live in a house on Dulwich estate land - round Court Lane etc - you have to get the estate's permission/approval . But I imagine if you did live there ,you'd know that !

[Kath Berry]

Update:

I telephoned Southwark Planning department today and the guy I spoke to didn't know (he said "go to our website") and when I informed him the link was broken he said I'd need to call back to speak to a duty manager - next week!

Crikey - it's a fence, you'd think they would know the height restrictions!

So I then asked the penalty and process if it exceeded the legal requirement and he said someone would have to take offence to it (pardon the pun), measure it, send it a complaint to Southwark, they would investigate if deemed unsuitable it would need to be "trimmed".

While I'd prefer to avoid this if possible, I will use this forum thread as evidence that I attempted to seek clarification before just going ahead.

Thanks EDFers

KWB

[edcam]

I don't think posting on here would count as "evidence" if you turn out to have contravened planning regulations. I'd check first if I were you.

[motorbird83]

It's not evidence. The decision regarding if the council will take enforcement action against you will be entirely based on how serious they consider the breach. Its unlikely they will do anything unless someone complains to them. However, I think you might get complaints if I'm honest. I think a lot of people would be put off by a front garden with a fence more than 1m high in on their street. Something higher than that will stick out like a sore thumb around here. Unless you live in a really large house with a significant drive or the like, then fair enough. On a terraced house though, a really tall front garden fence would look a bit odd.

[Frankito]

From personal experience, if you put up a fence more than one metre at the front of the house where you have a driveway then they will most certainly ask you to either reduce it to no more than one metre or remove it completely. I had the front garden done a few years back and the fence was around 6ft either side. I didn't forsee any issues with this as the hedges I had removed to mske way for said fencing were over 8ft tall.

Antway to cut a rather long, boring, and frstrating story shorter I received a letter from Southwark soon after instrcting me to remove the fences. Had I known what the rules are I would have complied as in the end, I wasted more money reducing them. Oh yes and at the same time focused my frustration on the neighbour who 'created' the situation....

[Kath Berry]

-- moved topic --

[jules b]

I hate to add fuel to a fire but if your house is listed, or in a conservation area, further rules might apply...

Going thru' the planning portal is the only way to find out as, and you've already found this out, getting thru' on the phone is nigh on impossible, and useless if you do!