Conservation Area Fencing — What We Actually Build
Conservation-area fencing is planning work wearing a joinery hat. The design guide for your street usually already exists — the job is finding it, following it, and having the council conversation before the fence goes up, not after a notice arrives.
This is a sector we work across London and Hertfordshire conservation areas and listed-adjacent frontages, where painted softwood picket or oak-post estate railings are usually the only compliant answer at the front.
What's usually allowed
Heights are typically kept to around 1m at the front and 1.8m at the rear under permitted development guidance, in materials that match the street rather than a generic catalogue drop-in.
- Hand-painted softwood picket
- Oak-posted estate railings
- Brick pier and painted timber rail for period frontages
The council conversation
We check the property's designation, cross-reference the local design guide, and where required prepare drawings for a Certificate of Lawfulness or a planning submission — that conversation is part of the job, not an add-on you have to run yourself.
What trips an audit
Installing anything visible from a public road above the permitted height without consent, or using pressure-treated brown timber on a heritage frontage, are the two things that get flagged fastest — usually by a neighbour before it's flagged by planning.
Conservation Area Fencing — frequently asked
How high can a front boundary be in a conservation area?
Typically around 1m at the front without consent, though the exact limit depends on the specific designation — we check before quoting.
Do I need planning permission to change a conservation-area boundary?
Sometimes — it depends on height, materials and the specific area's design guide. We'll tell you what's needed before work starts.
Can you match paint colours to the neighbouring frontage?
Yes, that's standard practice on period streets where consistency matters to the council and the neighbours alike.
Do you provide drawings for a Certificate of Lawfulness?
Where required, yes — we prepare the drawings as part of the job.
Can I use closeboard in a conservation area?
Rarely at the front — painted picket or estate railings are usually the compliant choice, though closeboard is often fine at the rear.
Conservation Area Fencing by town
Pick your town for local council rules, postcodes and property context.
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