We are often asked if aluminium gates, walls, fences, gate posts or pillars need planning permission. The simple answer is to check to make sure. In most cases, no planning permission is required. But if substantial building work was carried out that did need planning permission, you are much better off finding out. In the worse case scenario, you would have to take everything down.

So, to make things as clear as possible for anyone considering aluminium gates, here’s Stargate’s guide to planning permission.

Do I Need Planning Permission?

The simplest first step is to ring your local planning office and ask if you need planning permission for your new aluminium gates. Planning rules vary across the country and can even be different for the next street to yours. So, check first and your local planning office will tell you if your new gates, any pillars or posts or other building work will need planning permission.

If you don’t live in a Conservation Area, gates up to 2m high are unlikely to need planning permission. But it is worth checking because some areas don’t’ allow certain types of gates.

You are also more likely to fall foul of regulations if you are adding aluminium gates and pillars where there were none before.

Larger brick pillars may require planning permission depending on their size and particularly their height.

What Is The Worst That Could Happen?

If you happily go ahead with your new gates and any pillars etc without checking first, you could risk having to take it all down. If it turns out that you did need planning permission and you didn’t get it, you could be made to remove your gates temporarily while permission is sought retrospectively. Planning Officers have a job to protect the local area from unsightly buildings, visual obstructions and out of character constructions. If the planning permission is denied, you have to take everything down permanently.

But all worry and uncertainty can be removed with a call to your local planning office to confirm what is or isn’t required for your new aluminium gates.

In the worse case scenario, you may be required to gain planning permission and you may be denied it based on your original plans. But you can find out why it was denied and change your designs to remove the problem. Re-submitting revised plans should then allow the planning office to grant you permission.

What Do The Rules Say?

We always recommend that you check the specifics of your unique requirements but there are general guidelines.

According to Homebuilding and Renovating’s website (https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/20-things-you-can-do-no-planning-permission-required/#gates):
Permitted Development facilitates the erection, construction, maintenance, improvement or alteration to a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure, providing such work accords with the following limitations:
The height would not exceed 1m when adjacent to a highway
The height would not exceed 2m for any other gate, fence etc
Such development is not permitted under PD around a listed building’

Who Else Should I Talk To?

There’s no legal requirement to get permission from your neighbours but we always advise telling them about any planned building work. Issues with noise, dust and access while builders’ vehicles are parked locally can create tension. We recommend keeping your neighbours up to date with planned work and project duration to keep everyone happy.

So, here at Stargate Aluminium Gates we always recommend a quick call to your local council as the first step to having new aluminium gates installed. This is always going to be quicker and cheaper than having to rip out your newly installed gates if it turns out that you needed planning permission.

If you have any questions about aluminium gates, you can call Stargate on 033 022 34800.