Planning for a wall

Lando Griffin

Thanks in advance.

I want to build a block wall about 2’ high with railings on top outside my house in an estate.
There is no other house in the estate with walls out front.
Do I need to apply for planning?

sydthebeat

Lando Griffin wrote: »

Thanks in advance.

I want to build a block wall about 2’ high with railings on top outside my house in an estate.
There is no other house in the estate with walls out front.
Do I need to apply for planning?

.... interesting one.

the regs state that the wall should not be a "palisade" fence.

"No such structure shall be a metal
palisade or other security fence."

so for many local authorities this would include a 'decorative' metal railing.

however, i have experienced a case where the council accepted this arrangement as being exempted. We did have to officially contact them for a deliberation.

My advice is to consider it as requiring permission, but contact your council to check.

henryporter

I thought the regulation states that a wall is exempt as long as it doesn't exceed 1200mm in height - best to check with Local Authority first though

sydthebeat

henryporter wrote: »

I thought the regulation states that a wall is exempt as long as it doesn't exceed 1200mm in height - best to check with Local Authority first though

there are 3 conditions to be adhered to in order to be exempt. the 1.2 m (to the front, and 2.0 to the rear) condition is only one of the three.

Lando Griffin

sydthebeat wrote: »

there are 3 conditions to be adhered to in order to be exempt. the 1.2 m (to the front, and 2.0 to the rear) condition is only one of the three.

Is 1.2mtrs the total height of wall and rail or just wall?
Could I do it .3mtrs for wall with .9mtr rail?

sydthebeat

Lando Griffin wrote: »

Is 1.2mtrs the total height of wall and rail or just wall?
Could I do it .3mtrs for wall with .9mtr rail?

certainly if you go over 1.2 m, in total, you require planning by default.

im still of the opinion that you do. if you apply for planning you can apply for whatever dimensions you want.

muffler

Just to add that you should check the planning permission granted for the original estate to ensure the proposal does not contravene a condition of the permission. If it did then you would certainly need to apply for permission.

As advised above you should contact your local planning authority to ascertain if the proposal is exempt or not.

Mellor

I'd be of the opinion that the railing requires planning by default.
some LAs might let it slide, under under the regs, they are not exempt, as they are, strictly speaking, palisade fencing.

dCorbus

What's the overall height of the "structure" proposed - i.e. the wall and the railings combined? That information would be critical to providing an in any way definitive answer.

under under the regs, they are not exempt, as they are, strictly speaking, palisade fencing

Have to disagree with you there, Mellor, unfortunately - By the same logic, a georgian railing is palisade fencing? I think not. Metal palisade or other security fence, is the way it's formulated - A decorative railing is not a security fence IMO.

Lando Griffin

dCorbus wrote: »

What's the overall height of the "structure" proposed - i.e. the wall and the railings combined? That information would be critical to providing an in any way definitive answer.



Have to disagree with you there, Mellor, unfortunately - By the same logic, a georgian railing is palisade fencing? I think not. Metal palisade or other security fence, is the way it's formulated - A decorative railing is not a security fence IMO.

Total will be 1.2mtrs with decorative rail.

Mellor

dCorbus wrote: »

Have to disagree with you there, Mellor, unfortunately - By the same logic, a georgian railing is palisade fencing? I think not. Metal palisade or other security fence, is the way it's formulated - A decorative railing is not a security fence IMO.

No of course not, but a security fence can be decorative. Obviously.

The term palisade generally refers to a specific fence type these days. However, it is one that is always over 1.2m, and almost never used in single dwelling situations so its safe to assume that the restriction is wider than a typical security fence.

I also fail to see why a Georgian railing couldn't fall under this broad description? Any railing with a spiked top provides some element of security, regardless of decoration.

It doesn't take long to find out your relevant LA's stance on it, which do vary I understand based on comments above. Your position that we should just assume that it is exempt is terrible practice, for obvious reasons.