To not apply for planning permission for trellis on fencing?

[hawaiibaby]

We're near the end of having work done on our garden and three days before our gardener is due to erect some trellis on two of our fence panels (bringing the total height to 7.5 ft) he mentioned we might need permission and to talk to our neighbours. We had no idea!

Having googled, it seems any total fence height above 6.6 ft requires planning permission which seems crazy, applying for that would cost more than the trellis and climbers themselves! It would give our neighbours privacy too (new build and our living room and kitchen doors look right into each other) and we are also growing shrubs going along the remainder of the fence which will grow to about 7/8 ft eventually.

So has anyone actually applied for planning permission for such a thing or did you just check with the neighbours and get on with it? And were there any issues?And actually did you speak to your neighbours first? It is obviously our fence.

TIA

I'd just talk to the neighbours pointing out the benefits to both of you and see what they say.

we had some horrid conifers in our back garden removed which were the height of the house & been there since we brought the place 2.5 years ago, we replaced with trellis bolted to the fence (our fence according to the deeds) which boundaries two other properties the trellis isnt the same height the bushes were but is still about 7ft, we haven't bothered with planning permission, after all the bushes were a lot higher than a bit of fencing... we don't know or speak to the neighbours the fence borders but we did put a nice note through the door before the bushes came down just as a courtesy to let them know what was happening even though it was all on our private property & boundary.

Meh, what's the worst that could happen? You'd be ordered to either take it down or apply for retroactive planning permission.

No of course not. It is not a solid fence, so you don't need PP.

But it is above 2metres tall, so, technically, you do!

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

Very first line.

we didnt put in for planning on our conservatory, we thought the size of it didnt need it , but as always the nosey neighbour 3 doors away who it didnt affect phoned the council , the only problem could of been told to take it down or when we sell it wouldnt have been legal, we even had to get it on the decking area as it was joined to the conservatory, we got planning permission after,adding loads of value to the house as it is all legal now(must go and thank nosey).

Maybe mention it to the neighbours but not the legal side, ie don't put the idea in their heads, unless they think of it. Just mention it in a polite 'just being neighbourly' way.

My neighbours didn't ask. I have grown more stuff on the trellis than they have. (They have been complimentary about the flowering passion fruit and clematis, and asked its name so they could get one for the other side of their garden, so I don't think they mind.)

Thanks a lot all. It sounds like although we officially DO need pp (thanks nomanna), it isn't common to actually apply for it.

Think we will do as greencheese suggests and mention what we are doing, say it will give us both privacy and if they kick off, we won't do it and plant a couple of trees instead! Find it so bizarre that there isn't this law for shrubs / trees but there is for some inoffensive trellis

Your neighbours are the only people likely to complain, so if you discuss and agree with them you have nothing to lose.

my neighbours have atree that sheds its leaves all over our garden and is bloody annoying but they wont cut the branches overhanging ours.

we put up a plastic greenhouse thing, the roof bit goes above fence line a teeny bit and they complained it looked ugly on their side.

FFS. wish theyd put trellis up and F.O.

I thought it didn't apply to trellis, which can be considered 'temporary' as it is attached to the fence, as opposed to the actual fence which is permanent.

Anything over 2metres high needs planning permission, trellis is included

thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/garden-boundaries-and-fences/614/the-uk-law-concerning-fences-walls-and-gates/

Tardis you can cut the branches that overhang yours.

I live it new build to and our houses are built up (flooding area) so while stood in garden on grass 6ft fence is fine but stood in lounge or patio which is also built up as you step out of French doors onto raised patio then take steps done into garden! Means if in Lounge/patio you are staring straight into the house behind!

I paid and added trellis and I just had a friendly word with neighbor and she agreed it would help as she also felt like I must of thought she was staring over when she was just sat on her couch watching tv!

I think if you just ask they will prob love the idea especially if it won't cost them

Eva I told them I would and they went ballistic saying I dare not touch their tree!

Tardis your neighbours sound awful you really do have the right to cut what hangs over though, so long as you chuck it back into their garden!

Home pride, that's good about your neighbours, hope mine are the same as yours! I do hate that we can see into each other's houses, not that we make an effort to look but still.

DH thinks we should just go for it too and take the hit if they complain. He's not fussed about talking to them first incase they see it as asking permission but I think it might get their backs up if we don't.

Op I don't see why your neighbours would have aprob TBH, as theyd benefit form the privacy too.

I thought its fine to add trellis, trellis and fences are 2 entirely separate things.

DH is a town planning consultant - he thinks it only needs permission if it's fronting the highway. In the back garden he doesn't think it does [quick disclaimer, fencing / householder development isn't his particular area of expertise].

I don't think I'd bother with the planning permission but if you get on with your neighbours you could mention it to them and see if they mind. When you think of some of those giant leyandi things I don't think your fence can do a lot of harm.

Oh just looked at Nomama's link, looks like Dh is wrong, tut tut.

I think it also helped that I dropped into the convo that maybe they could try to remember to try and close the curtains as my dd saw them having sex on the sofa I made it clear that I was all for a bit if fun (being 8 months pregnant myself helped) she was actually mortified

This is an old topic but here is a good blog as a potential way to get around planning in case it is needed.

It involves building a fence the the 2m height and then adding toppers over the height. If anyone complains, then you cut the top off.

https://www.fenceinfo.co.uk/2024/10/is-there-way-to-install-fence-over-2m.html.html