Corner plot rear garden fence

hedgecutter1

Our rear garden is on a corner, currently enclosed by 14ft leylandii hedge. Planning Office say we can replace only with a 1m fence under permitted development, or apply for 1.5m. Our problem is that any passers by will see into our garden and our bungalow windows, compromising our privacy, safety and security.
On the basis that we accept we must ask for planning permission to erect a fence higher than 1m, on what basis is planning permission granted or declined? I cannot find any information on this - it seems to be entirely subjective.
There are lots of examples of 2m fences on corners around the area and the only clue we have is that the PO says there will be a "visual impact" - we think it will be a positive impact as the hedge is a mess; but in reality, when they allow new houses to be built, construct new devolpments etc, the "impact" of a fence really is irrellevant! The new fence will be lower than the current hedging, so there is no impact for highway users.
Any help please? We're stumped!
Thanks in advance

Farway

I'm no expert on planning, but isn't part of the problem on corner plots the line of sight, clear view of approaching traffic etc for both road users & pedestrians?

I suspect visual impact refers to this, not just does it look pretty or not

All must be able to see what is approaching from around the corner, hence the height limit of 1 metre allows any in a car, walking along or an invalid buggy to see above it.

You may well have problems trying to overcome this, even our local Highway Authority had to remove a hedged central reservation because it blocked view of oncoming traffic

Dustyevsky

You are in the wrong section of MSE, in the sense that this is a gardening forum, not one related to planning law. As you are aware, growing a hedge higher than a 2m boundary fence does not require planning permission, or even any gardening skill! However, some of us old gardeners here can multi-task....

The planning law to which you refer relates to any boundary fence adjacent to a public highway, which includes footpaths too. It can't exceed 1m without PP. If the planners suggest you could achieve 1.5m that's probably what they are minded to allow if they've considered the site properly, even with just Street View. The thinking is that if everyone puts up 2m fences the neighbourhood will look less visually open and attractive. As you are on a corner, drivers' sight lines also come into play, regardless of the higher hedge that exists now. Planners like hedges; it's all part of the eco agenda, handed down from on high - don't ask me how I know!

Be clear; what 'other people' have, or got away with in the past, is irrelevant. You want the best you can achieve and that looks to be 1.5m, but there's nothing stopping you from planting something behind that, and it doesn't have to be Leyland cypress. I'd recommend Berberis darwinii if you want security, but is the neighbourhood really that scary?

You may get other answers on:  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/in-my-home-includes-diy-moneysaving

though many legal beagles hang out in: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/house-buying-renting-selling

sevenhills

hedgecutter1 said:

Our rear garden is on a corner, currently enclosed by 14ft leylandii hedge. Planning Office say we can replace only with a 1m fence under permitted development, or apply for 1.5m. Our problem is that any passers by will see into our garden and our bungalow windows, compromising our privacy, safety and security.
On the basis that we accept we must ask for planning permission to erect a fence higher than 1m, on what basis is planning permission granted or declined? I cannot find any information on this - it seems to be entirely subjective.
There are lots of examples of 2m fences on corners around the area and the only clue we have is that the PO says there will be a "visual impact" - we think it will be a positive impact as the hedge is a mess; but in reality, when they allow new houses to be built, construct new devolpments etc, the "impact" of a fence really is irrellevant! The new fence will be lower than the current hedging, so there is no impact for highway users.
Any help please? We're stumped!
Thanks in advance

Some people prefer hedges because they can be higher than fences in certain situations. Perhaps you should keep your hedge?

I see some 2m fences, but not too many, perhaps the rules are not enforced if you do not apply for planning permission?

Someone would probably need to complain. Your right to privacy does not trump the safety of motorists who cannot see other traffic at junctions with high fences.

twopenny

The advice above is correct. I lived in a corner plot.

As you already have a hedge, one option is to trim and tidy it to your requirements. I've seen that done beautifully. Takes a year or so to'fluff up. Look up the best way to do it.

Or erect your fence to the required height and plant behind it. This will take longer but maybe more to your liking.

With regards to security the police recommend that they should be able to have clear sight of a property. It is a deterrent to would be miscreants. 

ArbitraryRandom

twopenny said:

The advice above is correct. I lived in a corner plot.

As you already have a hedge, one option is to trim and tidy it to your requirements. I've seen that done beautifully. Takes a year or so to'fluff up. Look up the best way to do it.

Or erect your fence to the required height and plant behind it. This will take longer but maybe more to your liking.

With regards to security the police recommend that they should be able to have clear sight of a property. It is a deterrent to would be miscreants. 

I'd agree with this - but I think the best of both worlds is a fence on your side and a hedge on the other - as the fence will provide a natural restriction for the hedge meaning it 'bushes' the other way. 

Obviously it depends on why you want to get rid of the hedge in the first place. 

Dustyevsky

ArbitraryRandom said:

twopenny said:

The advice above is correct. I lived in a corner plot.

As you already have a hedge, one option is to trim and tidy it to your requirements. I've seen that done beautifully. Takes a year or so to'fluff up. Look up the best way to do it.

Or erect your fence to the required height and plant behind it. This will take longer but maybe more to your liking.

With regards to security the police recommend that they should be able to have clear sight of a property. It is a deterrent to would be miscreants. 

Obviously it depends on why you want to get rid of the hedge in the first place. 

I think it's because it's far too large, and Leyland Cypress doesn't take to drastic cutting. However, with my gardening hat on now, I'd also say check that it's definitely not Thuja, (western Red Cedar) because that will grow from old wood.

Farway

twopenny said:

The advice above is correct. I lived in a corner plot.

As you already have a hedge, one option is to trim and tidy it to your requirements. I've seen that done beautifully. Takes a year or so to'fluff up. Look up the best way to do it.

Or erect your fence to the required height and plant behind it. This will take longer but maybe more to your liking.

With regards to security the police recommend that they should be able to have clear sight of a property. It is a deterrent to would be miscreants. 

I second this, my DD was burgled a year or so back and removing the hedges was the police advice, so any would be wrong u'ns are visible from the street

Grenage

You could put a small fence in and plant a hedge behind it.  Few years and it would give you the privacy you want.

35har1old

sevenhills said:

hedgecutter1 said:

Our rear garden is on a corner, currently enclosed by 14ft leylandii hedge. Planning Office say we can replace only with a 1m fence under permitted development, or apply for 1.5m. Our problem is that any passers by will see into our garden and our bungalow windows, compromising our privacy, safety and security.
On the basis that we accept we must ask for planning permission to erect a fence higher than 1m, on what basis is planning permission granted or declined? I cannot find any information on this - it seems to be entirely subjective.
There are lots of examples of 2m fences on corners around the area and the only clue we have is that the PO says there will be a "visual impact" - we think it will be a positive impact as the hedge is a mess; but in reality, when they allow new houses to be built, construct new devolpments etc, the "impact" of a fence really is irrellevant! The new fence will be lower than the current hedging, so there is no impact for highway users.
Any help please? We're stumped!
Thanks in advance

Some people prefer hedges because they can be higher than fences in certain situations. Perhaps you should keep your hedge?

I see some 2m fences, but not too many, perhaps the rules are not enforced if you do not apply for planning permission?

Someone would probably need to complain. Your right to privacy does not trump the safety of motorists who cannot see other traffic at junctions with high fences.

If the problems was sight lines a 1.5m fence would still interfer with that.The sights lines are usually set and any hedge or fence are planted are erected behind this.The trouble with a hedge reaching 4.3m in height it spreads beyond the sight lines.

Section62

35har1old said:

sevenhills said:

hedgecutter1 said:

Some people prefer hedges because they can be higher than fences in certain situations. Perhaps you should keep your hedge?

I see some 2m fences, but not too many, perhaps the rules are not enforced if you do not apply for planning permission?

Someone would probably need to complain. Your right to privacy does not trump the safety of motorists who cannot see other traffic at junctions with high fences.

If the problems was sight lines a 1.5m fence would still interfer with that.The sights lines are usually set and any hedge or fence are planted are erected behind this.The trouble with a hedge reaching 4.3m in height it spreads beyond the sight lines.

The Highway Authority can make you cut your hedge back if it becomes a problem.

However, modern thinking in highway design/maintenance is tending towards forgetting about sightlines and doing nothing about them being obstructed - the thinking being that if drivers can't see then they will drive more slowly and carefully.  The principal purpose of sightlines for drivers was to enable them to see ahead and make rapid progress - for example being able to give way (only if necessary), rather than having to stop.