Building a rather large wall by side of the road

Are curved walls not a lot stronger than straight?

Sure I saw a single leaf wall built with waves in it and they didn't need piers or another leaf?

A crinkle crankle wall, quite a few in Suffolk. Designed to achieve exactly as you state.

Nozzle
 
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Also, would highways approval be required for an alteration such as that to a wall that close to the highway??

That close to a highway and retaining that height, the existing wall will already be classified as a highways structure and I would imagine that the highways department of the local council would want to be involved in approving any alterations to it. Having gone through that process a couple of times (although admittedly on new walls) it is one of the most painful processes known to man :confused:
 
Has your council got a planning portal where they show all the planning applications?
Have a look see.
The wall appears to be permitted development! If so it wont have any application registered - unless an optional LDC has been sought
 
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Also, would highways approval be required for an alteration such as that to a wall that close to the highway??

That close to a highway and retaining that height, the existing wall will already be classified as a highways structure and I would imagine that the highways department of the local council would want to be involved in approving any alterations to it. Having gone through that process a couple of times (although admittedly on new walls) it is one of the most painful processes known to man :confused:
You can build a house right next to a road.

I can't see how that extra height has any impact on existing sight lines - unless its next to an airport :cautious:
 
You can build a house right next to a road.

I can't see how that extra height has any impact on existing sight lines - unless its next to an airport :cautious:
Site lines aren't necessarily the issue. It's an alteration to a structure that retains material above a highway (or within 3.66m of it). As mentioned, the alteration to the applied forces could destabilise the retaining wall, and the highways department wouldn't be at all happy if the wall collapsed onto the road (however unlikely).
 
Site lines aren't necessarily the issue. It's an alteration to a structure that retains material above a highway (or within 3.66m of it). As mentioned, the alteration to the applied forces could destabilise the retaining wall, and the highways department wouldn't be at all happy if the wall collapsed onto the road (however unlikely).
Where does your definition of a "highways structure" come from?
 
It's about 1.3m, in the middle so - looking at the steps and the fact that the old wall is higher towards the right hand side it would seem to be PD.

Perhaps the OP can nip round with a tape measure and confirm next time they are surveying the neighbourhood?
 
Where does your definition of a "highways structure" come from?

https://www.croftse.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/BD2-12-Highways-Structures-Approval.pdf
https://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/prod/attachments/cd13bfd5-5586-4d42-b182-5db31b504163 (I know this one says "withdrawn" - can't find the latest issue)

And as an example, although all highways departments have a similar document:
https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/regeneration-and-development/pdf/highways-structural-procedures.pdf
See Section 2.1 (b) below, and Figure 1:

b. In the particular case of walls supporting land above the highway (Section 167 of the Highways Act), and which are within 3.66m (4 yards) of the highway boundary, then a minimum retained height exceeding 1.35m (4 feet 6 inches) shall be used for the purpose of these guidelines (see Figure 1). The definition of a ‘highway’ includes the carriageway, footway or verges adjacent to the structure which are maintainable at public expense, or for which the Developer is seeking adoption under Section 38 or 278 of the Highways Act 1980.

So I guess in the end, it all comes from section 167 of the Highways Act...
 
https://www.croftse.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/BD2-12-Highways-Structures-Approval.pdf
https://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/prod/attachments/cd13bfd5-5586-4d42-b182-5db31b504163 (I know this one says "withdrawn" - can't find the latest issue)

And as an example, although all highways departments have a similar document:
https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/regeneration-and-development/pdf/highways-structural-procedures.pdf
See Section 2.1 (b) below, and Figure 1:

b. In the particular case of walls supporting land above the highway (Section 167 of the Highways Act), and which are within 3.66m (4 yards) of the highway boundary, then a minimum retained height exceeding 1.35m (4 feet 6 inches) shall be used for the purpose of these guidelines (see Figure 1). The definition of a ‘highway’ includes the carriageway, footway or verges adjacent to the structure which are maintainable at public expense, or for which the Developer is seeking adoption under Section 38 or 278 of the Highways Act 1980.

So I guess in the end, it all comes from section 167 of the Highways Act...
I suspect none of that applies to a garden wall
 
From the highest ground level

It's about 1.3m, in the middle so - looking at the steps and the fact that the old wall is higher towards the right hand side it would seem to be PD.

I guess I'm not quite following the definition of "highest ground level". Are we talking about the highest ground level immediately next to any portion of the wall, and not the upper ground level (at the top of the retaining wall), in comparison to the lower ground level (at the bottom)? :confused:
 
I suspect none of that applies to a garden wall
It's not just a garden wall though, it's a retaining wall (that has been altered) within 3.66m of a highway - why wouldn't the rules apply?

As I said, I've been involved in the design of similar (admittedly new) retaining structures (some of which were only 600mm or so high) and the highways department made us jump through all sorts of hoops to get approval. I'd imagine they'd also be interested in alterations to such a structure that could impact on its stability.

I don't know though, as clearly it's a slightly different situation, which is why I asked the question earlier.
 

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