Do I need planning permission to knock down front garden wall?

ahfh1

Hi,

I have a wall at the front of the house, with a small lawn that separates the wall from the house.

I would like to knock down some of the wall so that I can widen the access to the front drive.

Would I need planning permission to knock down part of the wall, or am I free to go ahead with this. The wall is up to my waist in height.

Thanks

ormus

generally no.
you may need permission in a conservation area.
and there maybe covenants on your deeds regarding certain alterations.

Mankysteve

unless the building is listed or a conservation area nope. Not if you plan on driving onto there you'll have to get the council to drop the curve for ya which will cost ya. otherwise they can fine ya.

crystaltips_68

Be careful if you live on a main road, the council wouldnt let me knock the wall down due to not wanting more cars reversing onto a busy road. If you can turn the car around and drive out, thats a different matter.

ahfh1

Mankysteve wrote: »

unless the building is listed or a conservation area nope. Not if you plan on driving onto there you'll have to get the council to drop the curve for ya which will cost ya. otherwise they can fine ya.

Good point about dropping the kerb. I'll contact the council about it.

It's not on a main road either, so hopefully it should be straight forward.

evilgoose

I asked my council about this the other day. I didnt need permission to take down the wall (I dont live in a conservation area), but they did need to do a check to see what 'type' of road I was on, I cant remember the exact details, I'm on a side road, so traffic isnt to heavy, so they said yes.

They sent me a letter to that affect, and also stating that if I was to lower the curb myself I would have to contact them to get the correct standard to do the work to.

It didnt cost me anything, and I've got the letter incase of any issues!

ahfh1

evilgoose wrote: »

I asked my council about this the other day. I didnt need permission to take down the wall (I dont live in a conservation area), but they did need to do a check to see what 'type' of road I was on, I cant remember the exact details, I'm on a side road, so traffic isnt to heavy, so they said yes.

They sent me a letter to that affect, and also stating that if I was to lower the curb myself I would have to contact them to get the correct standard to do the work to.

It didnt cost me anything, and I've got the letter incase of any issues!

Good news!

I'm assuming that you're going to lower the curb yourself because it will be cheaper than getting the council to do it?

Mojisola

In our area "lowering the kerb yourself" means paying one of the firms that the council allows to do this work. It has to be to a job that is guaranteed for a set number of years.

ormus

thats why i dont tell em anything unless i really have to.