Fences, walls & gates

You will need to apply for planning permission if you wish to erect or alter a fence, wall or gate and:

1. your house is a listed building or in the curtilage of a listed building; or

2. the fence, wall or gate would be over 1 metre high and next to a highway used for vehicles; or over 2 metres high elsewhere.

You do not need planning permission for hedges or trees. However, if there is a condition attached to the planning permission for your property which restricts the planting of hedges or trees (for example, on an "open plan" estate or where a sight line might be blocked), you will need to obtain the council's consent to relax or remove the condition before planting a hedge or tree screen. If you are unsure about this, you can check with the planning department of your council.

You will not need to make a planning application to take down a fence,wall,gate or other means of enclosure. However, in a conservation area, you might need conservation area consent.