Front garden wall height?

whiskywhisky

Hi All


We live on a very busy A road, therefore do suffer from noise and also privacy as the front wall is currently only around 2 ft.


We shortly will be embarking on major renovations (extension etc) and also will rebuild the very old front brick wall. The front garden is around 40ft, with a drive in and driveway.


I would very much appreciate opinions on what height we should build the front wall (obviously depending on planning)? The height I have commonly seen listed on various sites is around 4ft or 5ft.


We would like the wall to assist noise (we realise this will not totally take it away) and give a little bit of privacy when in the front garden. Does a 5ft wall sound about right? or would it make a house look a bit like a prison?




Thanks
There are no neighbours with properties facing the front road, therefore I am unable to copy them.

Alter_ego

Ask the local council about their byelaws concerning walls/fences fronting a road.

whiskywhisky

Alter ego - thanks. From our architects that side of things they are confident is fine.


What my query is what height should we go for when applying?




Thanks

Alter_ego

That would depend on what the council say.

ariba10

Was Alter ego said. Ask the council what is the maximum they will accept.

Ebe_Scrooge

Another suggestion - a decent hedge / row of trees will cut noise very effectively, even more so than a wall. You'll obviously need to check planning regs, but it's worth considering.

I used to live in a house on a main road, there was a row of leylandii trees on the boundary and you could barely hear the traffic. We just kept them trimmed to a sensible level each year and they didn't get out of hand, formed a very effective & solid hedge.

whiskywhisky

Thanks.


Well the architects has asked us to let them know what height we would like for when we meet next. I sensed from them that the council would allow upto 2m (around 6.5 ft).


But we do not want such a height, as it will be will over bearing.

Dan-Dan

you should read this
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/fenceswallsgates/