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Is a trellis within the garden covered by the 2m rule?

8 replies

Rolf · 24/06/2010 18:44

We have a 2m fence separating our garden from our neighbour's. Just outside our back door, we have a raised patio with a small wall. The small wall is waist height from the patio, and 120cm high when measured from ground level. We have attached a 185cm high trellis to this wall and planted some climbing plants in pots on the patio. So it's quite a high structure altogether. We didn't think it would be a problem as this small wall is at the side of the house (further enclosing the side return, 130cm from the fence). It's well within our property, not on the boundary.

I know that the golden rule with these things is to speak to the neighbours first, but we didn't because the reason we put the trellis up in the first place was because our neighbour has taken to sitting on a sun lounger on top of his outbuilding, directly overlooking our garden, and we wanted to have a bit more privacy. He strips off down to some worryingly loose shorts and positions the sun lounger so he is looking directly into our garden. Our children have found it intimidating, and so do I.

I don't think that the trellis affects the neighbours at all. It might eventually block some sunlight to the top of their outhouse roof, once the plants have become well-established - probably give dappled light, rather than block the light. But it doesn't overlook any useable part of their garden.

Anyway, we had a visit from the planning department and the workman who saw them (I was out) said that someone had made a complaint about the trellis height.

I know that the maximum height for a wall or fence that isn't on the public highway is 2m, but I didn't think this would be the case for a structure that is within our garden rather than on the boundary. We can always cut off the top of the trellis to the required height, if necessary, but would like to keep as much height as possible.

OP posts:
GrendelsMum · 24/06/2010 19:41

I'm pretty sure that trellis doesn't count.

Was it perhaps a sunny day when the planning person came round? I hear from my sister that on a hot sunny day, they all get very keen on going out on site visits.

Fizzylemonade · 24/06/2010 19:45

Sadly it is included otherwise I would have done it at my last house where there was a massive height difference.

You can apply for planning permission but if it is your neighbour who has rang planning then they will be consulted although technically they cannot "object" they can just "comment".

Have a look on www.gardenlaw.co.uk under their forums for fences/boundaries etc as this kind of thing is well documented.

You can't even plant a row of connifers as it comes under the high hedge legislation. There are ways round it, but have a look at garden law and maybe post there too.

And yes it was a major part of why we moved house

HonestyBox · 24/06/2010 20:22

Are trees covered then? Neighbour has large overhanging trees, I'm not bothered too much but they do block a bit of of sun from our garden. Grrrrrr, sorry to hijack and this has probably been asked a million times.

If trees and plants aren't covered then you could replace the trellis with a large acer palmatum in a container (gorgeous) and some bamboo, some species can grow very tall.

Rolf · 25/06/2010 12:30

Thanks for the replies. The enforcement officer came round again today and agreed that it's there as a plant support, and isn't a fence. Therefore it's not caught by the regulations .

OP posts:
NoseyNooNoo · 25/06/2010 18:12

good for you!

judygranny · 15/03/2013 16:10

If your neighbour's behaviour is intimidating in this way it might be worth a quiet word with your local police. It may be innocent but there are some strange people about. judygran

cakeycakeface · 17/04/2016 12:25

The issue with planning is they chose not to make screening a condition of development.

We believe this was strategic, to give the committee the impression privacy and visual amenity were a 'non-issue' for us, therefore screening was not required. This decision was a departure from consent granted for other recent development.

My worry is they may do the same for us now, as a form of obstinately refusing to see the problem they've created. I suppose we could head them off by cutting our fence down by a metre, and replacing it with trellis or wires and grow creeper across. But would this be included in the height of the fence?

I wish I could contact planning and clear things up but I really don't trust them anymore. I honestly believe their approach with this development has been to try conceal bad historical decisions.

cakeycakeface · 17/04/2016 12:27

Sorry - wrong thread (again).

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