A well-chosen fence not only improves the overall look of a property but also keeps the household and its pets safe. When choosing a fence for your plot there are several important points to bear in mind. It is worth thinking about the exact look of the fence, but also about its height, which has to comply with building regulations. As it turns out, putting up a fence is not such a simple matter. Here is the most important information to know before you order a fence.
Where do you start when building a fence?
Building a fence delivers, above all, safety and privacy. It protects your home from thieves, from inquisitive neighbours and from animals. When choosing a fence it is worth checking whether any local planning policy applies to your site — there may be requirements you have to follow, such as the type or appearance of the fence, or a height limit. Otherwise you may find the fence has to be taken down or altered.
Why is it worth fencing a house?
A fence makes a considerable difference to how comfortable a garden is to use — it gives a sense of privacy on your own ground. It marks the boundary that a neighbour or an animal will not cross uninvited, and shows where one property ends. A fence is also a very important architectural element in visual terms: it completes the design of the house and everything around it. Flowers, shrubs and ornamental trees, together with stone or block paving leading to the door and the garage, complete the picture. Beyond that, a fence is there to keep the people living in the house safe.
Fence height — the regulations
How tall can a fence be?
In England you can put up a fence, wall or gate under permitted development without planning permission if it is no more than:
- 2 m high anywhere on the boundary, or
- 1 m high where it is next to a highway used by vehicles, or a footpath alongside such a highway.
Above those heights you need planning permission from the local authority. There are also cases where the rights do not apply at all: listed buildings and land within their curtilage, and anywhere covered by an Article 4 direction. In a conservation area the height limits are the same, but other consents may be needed and it is worth checking first.
Two further points that catch people out: the height is measured from ground level on the higher side, and repairing or maintaining an existing fence does not need permission as long as its height does not increase. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own limits.
The best fence height in practice
A taller fence gives more privacy on your own plot, and a tall fence also improves the security of a property. Which height works best in practice? Most people choose a fence between roughly 1.7 and 2.2 m. If all you want is to mark the boundary between two plots, a lower fence of 1–1.2 m will be enough — a solution often used on purely recreational plots.
Other technical points a fence should meet
The most important principle is that a fence must not create a hazard. If it is to stand near a road, and particularly near a junction or a bend, it must not restrict a driver’s field of vision. It also matters a great deal how you level the fencing posts, and what width of gate will work best.
Distance from the neighbouring boundary
The principle is simple — no part of a fence may extend beyond the boundary of the property. Do not build a tall fence without your neighbour’s agreement either, if it could significantly restrict their outlook or the amount of daylight they receive. A straightforward conversation will at least keep neighbourly relations intact.
Which type of fence is best? Palisade fencing
When choosing a fence, do not go by looks and shape alone. Pay particular attention to the materials it is made from. Think about whether, in your case, the fence is there to decorate and mark a boundary, or perhaps to stop your dog getting out. Match the fence to your requirements.
Planning to build a fence? Whether you want to enclose an allotment, put a fence up on recreational land, secure a private property or shut out noise from the road, we will help. Choosing our modern aluminium palisade fencing gets you not only a high-class, durable fence but also professional advice on every aspect of building it. Do get in touch.