When is a 6' fence not a 6' fence?

DiscoCat54

First of all I'll start by saying that I'm not losing any sleep over this, I'm asking out of curiosity more than anything..

I'm buying a new build that comes with 6' fence panels however the developers have raised the garden on one side so the fence is just short of 4' down one length.

I mentioned it to them and they said that it is a 6' panel on the other side which is the showroom carpark (and hasn't been raised) so they have technically provided the 6' panel as promised.

I'm happy to resolve using trellis so that my dogs can't jump it but I just wondered out of curiosity whether the panel should have been 6' on my side and not on the carpark...

Mojisola

The rules say that you can have a 2m fence without needing planning permission providing that the 2m is measured from the original ground level. Would the raised area of the garden in a new build count as "original ground level"?

If the fence is in the showroom car park, is it your fence? If not, you won't be able to add any height to it.

Also, what is supporting the raised area of your garden? I hope there is something more than the fence holding it in place.

maninthestreet

As Mojisla states, unless there is adequate support of your raised garden then, over time, your garden will miragte into that carpark.

DiscoCat54

You've both raised a very good point! It isn't filled in yet but there are no additional supports in place just an open trench. Looking at what they've done so far they appear to just be packing it out with soil against the exisiting panels.

Biggles

What's going to be where the showroom car park is? Will that also be raised if and when it forms part of a garden?

DiscoCat54

Hi Biggles. It's going to be turned in to a garden in around 18 months - 2 years. I doubt it will be raised as it it the same level as the other houses that my garden will back on to.

maninthestreet

DiscoCat54 wrote: »

You've both raised a very good point! It isn't filled in yet but there are no additional supports in place just an open trench. Looking at what they've done so far they appear to just be packing it out with soil against the exisiting panels.

The fence panels won't last long if they are doing that - there needs to be a retaining wall. Note that when the fence fails, and your garden starts to encroach onto that car park, it will be your responsibility to put things right.

Mojisola

If the fence is yours but the posts are 2' lower and on a level with next door's garden, how are you going to replace them without going into and digging up their garden?

Don't accept the house until the builder has put in a proper supporting wall and put up a new fence on your raised land.

scottishblondie

DiscoCat54 wrote: »

You've both raised a very good point! It isn't filled in yet but there are no additional supports in place just an open trench. Looking at what they've done so far they appear to just be packing it out with soil against the exisiting panels.

Fence panels are in no way suitable for that, they need to build a retaining wall if your garden is going to be 2' higher than the ground on the other side. Fence panels aren't designed to take the weight of the soil pressing on them like that, not to mention they will get pretty soggy!

happycamel_2

Please don't accept it like that. We are currently replacing 20 metres of rotten fencing on a 14 year old house, it's costing a fortune and that's with doing the work ourselves and our neighbours not minding us digging and lifting in their flower beds.

DiscoCat54

Thanks so much for all of your advice. I have put my concerns in writing to the developer as well as a request for a retaining wall. I'll see what they come back with...