Railings and gates can be an important privacy and security feature for your home, but they do impact its general atmosphere. They also need to comply with legal requirements. It is important to think carefully about their height.
Legal requirements
Your legal obligations may change if you live in a listed building or conservation area, but in general, you are required to seek planning permission if a railing, fence or gate has a height greater than 2m, or 1m next to a highway with vehicle traffic.
Privacy
If you are trying to avoid observation from a double-decker bus, then you need a height of 2m or more, although this may vary if your garden is not on flat ground. For more general purposes, 1.2m is considered a good height to protect without overshadowing, especially if you have dogs.
Security
Height alone does not improve security – the addition of anti-climbing spikes to a 1.8m gate is often a more effective deterrent than exceeding 2m. Going over 1.5m also presents a visual obstruction to drivers.
Materials
Wooden gates and posts may warp if they reach over 1.5m in height without reinforcement. Bespoke metal gates, such as those at https://donkeywellforge.co.uk/what-we-make/wrought-iron-railings-bespoke-metal-gates/, are stronger and will not have the same issue.
Practicalities
Stable gates and railings rely on strong foundations, the depth of which depends upon the type of soil, and must therefore be considered in your plans. Adding to the height may also increase the overall cost of purchase and installation, especially if you choose a more expensive material.
Local area
It is best when your railings fit the character of your local area and match the height of adjacent railings to avoid neighbourly disputes. Higher gates can cast an oppressive shadow. Lower railings between 1.1m and 1.3m are also more consistent with Victorian-style properties.
The appropriate height for your gates and railings may vary, depending on the nature of your property and the character of the surrounding area. Discuss the matter with your local council as well as your installers if you have any doubts.
