Do you need planning permission for a wall, fence or gate?

Walls, fence and gates can often be built under permitted development which means they do not need planning permission providing they meet all the necessary criteria and there are no constraints removing permitted development rights.

If there are any constraints that remove your permitted development rights then everything requires planning permission, even if it meets the criteria for permitted development.

A wall, fence or gate could be permitted development if it meets the following criteria;

If it is next to a highway used by vehicles or a footpath along a highway it must not exceed one metre in height from ground level. If it is not next to a highway it must not exceed 2 metres in height from ground level. If an existing fence, wall or gate already exceeds these limits you can replace or alter it providing the original height is not increased. No part of the site is a listed building or within the curtilage of a listed building. No part of the fence, wall, gate or any other boundary involved, forms a boundary with a neighbouring listed building or its curtilage.

You do not need planning permission for hedges as such, however if there are any planning conditions or a covenants then you may need planning permission or another form of consent.

If even one of these conditions are not met or there are any constraints which limit or remove your permitted development rights, then you will need to apply for planning permission.

For walls, fence or gates that are likely to fall within permitted development a lawful development certificate is recommended as this is the only way to get a legal determination that your development is in fact permitted.

A lawful development certificate will likely be required should you wish to sell the property at any stage in future and perhaps more importantly it also protects you from any retrospective planning issues, enforcements or penalties.

Building regulations approval may be required once planning permission is approved, depending on the extent of the works.

If you would like to find out what is required for your wall, fence or gate, the likelihood of success or the costs associated with applying for planning permission please contact us to speak with one of our expert planning consultants today.

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