Retrospective planning permission for a garden fence with netting

[Cheesybiscuits01]

We have put up a fence with netting to prevent footballs going into our next door neighbours garden. Didn't realise it was high enough to need planning permission. Has anyone applied for retrospective planning permission. Who/what did you use for drawings of the plans? Do I need to actually employ an architect? Is this something I can do on chatgpt or similar? Thanks

You can use photos and add dimensions. How high is it?

Has anyone complained?
Is the fence the right height, with just the netting too high (over 2m)?
I don't normally recommend this, but if no one has complained and it's just the netting which could easily be removed, I wouldn't bother with PP.

Its 4m high. I tried submitting pictures with measurements but they emailed back asking for plans which I dont have. Unfortunately someone has complained already so need to get the actual planning permissions.

Can you just lower the height. I’m reading this as though you have a fence, standard height, then a net higher. So if the net comes down problem solved?

Just sketch it, with dimensions, and show on your title plan where it is. 4m is huge though, more like tennis court height. How much is solid?

I dont think the local council will give you permission for a 4m high fence net. I would take it down and just leave the fence up. I think you are ok up to 2m but probably best to check the local rules

You will not get permission. Reduce the height to 2 m.

I thought you could add trellis to a 2m fence without it technically adding to the height , presumably because the trellis isn’t solid.

I’d’ve thought the same thing about the netting, adding that it’s temporary in nature - could you agree to take it down over winter?

Trellis technically counts as part of the fence, and should not be above 2m.

OP - 4m is very high. Is it stopping footballs coming into your garden, or stopping it going into neighbours? I'm assuming it's not helping neighbours if they've complained.

I think it extremely unlikely that something of that height would be approved in the boundary. I have only come across tennis court fencing of that sort of height, but they are usually located well away from boundaries within massive gardens.

That’s going to be a massive eyesore. Have you spoken to your neighbours about it and seen whether they’re likely to object?

Can’t your children just control themselves enough to not need a 4m high net? Thats massive.

Not really the point but I'd like to know how you constructed something 4m high in your garden! What is holding it up?

Did you install the fence yourselves? If it was a tradesperson, usually they would advise re planning applications and normally submit them on your behalf. It's not something you need an architect for. A simple hand drawn diagram with measurements and photos will be fine.

Most of the time, high fences/trellis etc get by because of the fact that the LA do not have the time or inclination to survey every garden in every street in their area of authority.
If however a complaint is made then they are obliged to investigate and if necessary, enforce.
The fact that it has been reported means that you will have one objection to start with.
4M is very high, have neighbours been putting up with balls flying over prior to this?

Someone on our estate has a net this tall above their fence to stop basketballs coming in from their neighbours garden. Is it your neighbour or a third party who has complained as that may make a difference? Our local amateur football club has a 10ft tall wire fence across one side of the field that backs on to houses and the golf course was consulting on some even taller fencing so presumably it's permitted in some circumstances but not sure if it's only commercial rather than an individual residential property.

I looked at collapsible fencing a few years back as a possible way around needing planning. I never put netting up though, I planted trees instead. Balls go over occasionally.

You almost certainly don't need an architect for a fence. For retrospective planning, councils usually want a simple plan showing where it sits, the height, and materials — a measured sketch or basic CAD from a technician is enough. An architect fee would be overkill unless the council has specifically asked for something more formal.

Worth checking two things first:

1. Whether you actually need planning at all. Fronting a highway / being over 1m or 2m (depending on position) is where fences trip people up; a 4m structure with netting is tall enough that yes, planning is likely — but confirm with the council's duty planner or their online guidance for your borough before spending money.
2. What's holding it up. At that height, posts, foundations and wind load matter more than the drawings. If it's already in and the neighbour or council is concerned, a short note from a structural engineer or experienced fencing contractor on whether it's safe can be more useful than fancy plans.

If you do submit retrospectively, keep the pack thin: location plan, elevation with heights marked, photos, and a short covering letter. An architect isn't the first port of call for this.