Installing a hedge near highway

blueberrye

Recently I have had to remove a fence from 2m to 1m around my house for a highway (it's not really a main highway just a backstreet for bin collection). 

The reason I had to reduce height was that a complaint was made, if the complaint was not made the fence would have not been removed. 

I was told by planning permission officer it was okay to install a hedge.

Now because the fence is near a highway, the roadsides foundations are under the soil. How far do I need to dig to plant the hedge without damaging the foundation of the road? 

TELLIT01

I would plant privet or another fast growing hedge.  You will need to get down about a spade depth for planting.  Plant at least 45cm in from the boundary.  That will allow for the hedge to spread outwards as it grows.  It seems crazy that they won't permit a 2 metre fence but I'd put money on them never trying to enforce a 1 metre height restriction on a hedge.

Section62

blueberrye said:

Recently I have had to remove a fence from 2m to 1m around my house for a highway (it's not really a main highway just a backstreet for bin collection). 

The reason I had to reduce height was that a complaint was made, if the complaint was not made the fence would have not been removed. 

I was told by planning permission officer it was okay to install a hedge.

Now because the fence is near a highway, the roadsides foundations are under the soil. How far do I need to dig to plant the hedge without damaging the foundation of the road? 

If it is road rather than footway then the roots of a hedge are unlikely to do any significant damage (assuming it has been constructed properly in the first place).

More important (for the hedge) is having the hedge far enough away that the roots have soil below them rather than any road construction.

And most important (for you) is having the root line of the hedge far enough back that the hedge has room to grow without overhanging the highway - if someone is willing to complain about your fence then they are likely to start complaining that the hedge is growing over the highway (and causing obstruction/visibility issues). Leaving enough room for the hedge to grow (horizontally) means you won't be having to cut it back so often.

You may also want to double check there is no restriction on growing a hedge along that boundary (either planning or a restrictive covenant) rather than just relying on the word of one planning officer... or if you rely on their word, make sure you have it in writing.

Eldi_Dos

If you do plant a hedge put in two staggered row's, this will enable it to thicken up and provide privacy quicker.We are just coming into a good time of the year for planting,it will give the roots time to establish over the winter months.

Baldytyke88

The closer to the road you plant it, the sooner you will need to trim it. Tall hedges can be harder and more expensive to trim.

blueberrye

Section62 said:

blueberrye said:

Recently I have had to remove a fence from 2m to 1m around my house for a highway (it's not really a main highway just a backstreet for bin collection). 

The reason I had to reduce height was that a complaint was made, if the complaint was not made the fence would have not been removed. 

I was told by planning permission officer it was okay to install a hedge.

Now because the fence is near a highway, the roadsides foundations are under the soil. How far do I need to dig to plant the hedge without damaging the foundation of the road? 

If it is road rather than footway then the roots of a hedge are unlikely to do any significant damage (assuming it has been constructed properly in the first place).

More important (for the hedge) is having the hedge far enough away that the roots have soil below them rather than any road construction.

And most important (for you) is having the root line of the hedge far enough back that the hedge has room to grow without overhanging the highway - if someone is willing to complain about your fence then they are likely to start complaining that the hedge is growing over the highway (and causing obstruction/visibility issues). Leaving enough room for the hedge to grow (horizontally) means you won't be having to cut it back so often.

You may also want to double check there is no restriction on growing a hedge along that boundary (either planning or a restrictive covenant) rather than just relying on the word of one planning officer... or if you rely on their word, make sure you have it in writing.

I asked gardener to plant the hedge by digging a trench and he said he can't do it, it will damage the foundation of the road. However, the trench will be at least 30cm away from the fence. I'll loose quite a bit of my garden but I'm okay with that as long as I'm not damaging the foundation. 

This put me in worry. 

I asked several other gardeners and they said trench or holes were fine along side the road. However I want to be certain I'm not damaging any foundations. The fence itself has posts dug into the ground which so far haven't damaged the road side. 

blueberrye

TELLIT01 said:

I would plant privet or another fast growing hedge.  You will need to get down about a spade depth for planting.  Plant at least 45cm in from the boundary.  That will allow for the hedge to spread outwards as it grows.  It seems crazy that they won't permit a 2 metre fence but I'd put money on them never trying to enforce a 1 metre height restriction on a hedge.

I was allowed a brick fence with railings at 1.5m. however, the land slopes so that will cause flooding so I stuck with 1m fence. I'm planning on just having the hedge at 1.5m. 

Eldi_Dos

If you have concerns about water run off get whoever is doing the planting to dig a bit deeper and put some gravel in before soil and then planting.

Bookworm105

there is no way that road foundations are going to be under land that you own given what you describe. Stop panicking.
the main issue will be what many others have already said, allow for lateral spread as it is your responsibility to keep it cut back (not wait for a complaint before you do so). Therefore you want the hedge to have enough room to be a decent shape 

Grenage

To parrot what has already been said, make sure you plant far back enough.  30cm is not enough.

MysteryMe

Planting 30 cms from the fence is nowhere near enough back from it. You will end up having to trim the overhang so deep into the centre of the hedge that it will just look like a load of sticks and a right mess. I'd be doubling that to at least 60cm