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Original poster

Any ARCHITECTS here?? Question about entrance gates...

15 replies

morningpaper · 25/09/2005 20:30

I know there are at least a couple of architects hiding out here... I'm trying to find out whether there's a minimum distance for putting up gates to a drive which comes off the road. We have planning permission but it states that the gates have to be 4.5 METRES from the road which would look AWFUL, which seems crazy as it's a conservation area and the gates are bloody expensive!

I can't find out this information anywhere... anyone help me?!

OP posts:
Mirage · 25/09/2005 20:44

Morningpaper,a couple of my friends have had the same problem.It seems to be a requirement of The Highways Agency that gates are set back far enough from the road that you don't block the road when you get out to open them.

I'm not an architect,but it may be worth checking if the Highways Agency have a website,with more info on it.We are in a conservation area too & have decided against a gate on our drive for the same reason-it would look stupid stuck halfway up our drive.

Good Luck

Nevada · 25/09/2005 20:48

What about having automatic gates with a remote control so you don't have to get out of the car?

Original poster
morningpaper · 25/09/2005 20:49

Thanks Mirage. I was wondering whether I could get around it by having automatic gates, so there would be no need to park to open them... don't really want it open, it looks a bit crap. Thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
morningpaper · 25/09/2005 20:50

Nevada that's what I was wondering... I've seen new developments in the locality which have roadside gates, so there must be some flexibility hmmmmm

OP posts:
jamiesam · 25/09/2005 20:59

Hi - I think you just have a local ruling from your council here. I have come across this through work - 5.5m in some Councils.

I should have a quick chat with your planning department. When you got planning permission, the Council would have weighed up it's own policies on 1) design in the Conservation Area and 2)highway safety. Check in case the Conservation team could help with any relaxation on the 4.5m distance (although may be too late now planning permission granted)

I wonder if it would be possible for the Council to 'enforce' the electric gate rule - ie if the mechanism stopped working and you started parking in front of the gates while you got out and opened them by hand, would the Council be able to force you to either mend the gates or remove them? If not, then they wouldn't be likely to agree to electric gates next to the pavement.

Oh, and one last thing - did you need planning permission for any gates or because the ones you want are more than 1m high? Permission only needed for all gates if normal permitted development rules have been removed in a Conservation Area/on a listed building. If those rules haven't been removed, would you consider 1m high gates? You could put them where you want! Or point out to the planning department that you may do this if they can't compromise on 4.5m set back.

(by the way, I'm not an architect, I'm a planner)

Original poster
morningpaper · 25/09/2005 21:03

Hi Jamie, thanks for your post!

We needed permission for the drive itself and in the permission document it states that we have to retain the existing wrought iron railings. (Our plans that we submitted showed us re-using them where possible, although actually they crumbled to dust when we took them out!) The permission also included this statement about the gates being 4.5m from the carriageway - although annoying our plans are nothing like that which makes me wonder whether there was much point drawing up the plans to start with!!!

OP posts:
jamiesam · 25/09/2005 21:11

I should definitely have a word with the planners - it's just possible that someone has automatically included a 4.5m set back condition on the request of the highway officer without referring it back to the conservation officer - (on the other hand if you're access is on to a major road, maybe the set back was agreed by all??)

jamiesam · 25/09/2005 21:12

eek - your

Original poster
morningpaper · 25/09/2005 21:18

Do you know, I have just been out there measuring and assuming that the 'carriageway' is the edge of the road (that's right?) then because the pavement is wide, where we were planning to put the gates was 4 m 40 cm from the edge of the road - I can't see them arguing about 10cm, so maybe we'll be ok!

OP posts:
jamiesam · 26/09/2005 21:37

Will you type me out the wording of the condition? (purely professional interest of course!) Normally, the distance is from the highway edge, and the footpath (and verges) are all highway. Hope you're right though.

Meko · 26/09/2005 22:17

we have the same problem - live in a conservation area drew up plans for a wall, 2x gates and railings ( we have an in out drive), submitted them and go told we would have to step one set of gates back basically a carlength from the road. dont have the exact measurements to hand, if we accepted this they would pass the plans.mmwe agreed and then they gave permission stating that both had to be set back a car lengh, really constricts turn on drive. Blooming nightmare planners are.

jamiesam · 26/09/2005 22:27

Sorry (on behalf of...)

Original poster
morningpaper · 27/09/2005 17:23

Jamiesam I will root out the details for you...

OP posts:
Original poster
morningpaper · 27/09/2005 17:23

"Any entrance gates erected shall be hung to open inwards and shall be set back a minimum distance of 4.5m from the carriageway."

OP posts:
jamiesam · 27/09/2005 21:15

oh, excellent - you're right, there's only 10cm between you! I have to agree that the chances of you being caught out for 10cm have got to be unbelievable slim!

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