Couple who replaced hedge with a fence told they are in breach of planning rules

A composite fence around a house — (Image credit: Google Earth)

A retired Bolton couple have been told to remove a £4,500 composite fence that replaced an overgrown hedge at their home, after their planning appeal was dismissed.

David and Denise Hopwood installed the 25-metre-long fence with a 1-foot trellis to improve privacy and reduce maintenance, but they did not gain planning permission.

Despite their efforts, Bolton Council and a planning inspector ruled that the structure is out of keeping with the street scene.

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What the couple installed

David and Denise Hopwood removed an old eight-foot-high hedge along the front of their corner plot and replaced it with a 6-foot composite fence topped with a decorative 1-foot trellis.

The grey and black composite panels fully enclose the frontage of the property. David said: “We put it up for privacy and security, as well as it being ideal for maintenance purposes.”

Why the couple removed the hedge

A fence and a brick wall — *Planning permission for the fence* *was rejected by the council* (Image credit: Google Earth)

The couple, aged 67 and 66, explained the hedge had become too difficult and costly to maintain due to their arthritis and health issues.

Denise said: “We both have arthritis and the hedge was out of control, we weren’t able to look after it.”

Before the fence was installed, the pair even pegged blankets along the hedge line to stop passers-by looking into their home. The fence was meant to provide a safe, private, and low-maintenance solution.

Council's decision

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council initially refused retrospective planning permission, citing the fence’s height, materials, and design as incompatible with the character and appearance of the area.

The Planning Inspector upheld the decision, stating in the report: “The fence appears as a discordant and strident feature in the street scene and poorly relates to the scale of the adjoining wall.”

While acknowledging the couple’s personal circumstances, including age, arthritis, and desire for security, the inspector concluded there was insufficient evidence to justify overriding planning policies protecting local character.

David responded: “I feel we have been hard done by saying it doesn’t fit with the street scene… There isn’t one size that fits all here.”

News Editor Joseph has previously written for Today’s Media and Chambers & Partners, focusing on news for conveyancers and industry professionals. Joseph has just started his own self build project, building his own home on his family’s farm with planning permission for a timber frame, three-bedroom house in a one-acre field. The foundation work has already begun and he hopes to have the home built in the next year. Prior to this he renovated his family's home as well as doing several DIY projects, including installing a shower, building sheds, and livestock fences and shelters for the farm’s animals. Outside of homebuilding, Joseph loves rugby and has written for Rugby World, the world’s largest rugby magazine.