How To Add Height To A Difficult Fence?

[jagillham]

Any help appreciated for a solution that works, but does not look terrible please.

Our house is on a corner plot, with a 6ft fence around the outside. I would ideally like to add another 1ft to this for security and privacy. (We're across the road from a pub, so myself being on the taller side I often awkwardly catch the eye of people in the beer garden!)

The fence itself is a really nice job actually, but that is proving difficult. It's a feather board and arris rail construction. The concrete posts are not slotted, and the fence runs in line with the slope of the hill (rather than each panel stepping down from the next).

Ideally the solution would be something like trellis, that we could grow some creepers thought to avoid looking like a prison yard, but yet put some anti climb strip on top.

Thanks

 

[sodthisforfun]

Not sure you can go above 6ft without planning permission, that includes trellis.
If your fence is next to a road, which I suspect it is, it may even be as little as 1 meter.
https://www.planningni.gov.uk/index/.../advice_home_fences.htm

As far as I know, there's less restriction on plants, so you may be able to grow something, though not sure how without planting a new row of hedges or changing your fences. They look too good for that.

 

[jagillham]

Thanks @sodthisforfun

I believe you are technically correct about the 1m limit next to a road. What I don't know is if the council is really that bothered or not? I see huge walls, fences and even buildings right next to the road all over the place. Seems crazy to me that a corner plot is not given atleast the same right as between neighbours given the additional risk of ending up with undesirables in the garden!

 

[sodthisforfun]

Well, you could just go ahead and try and add some height - and hope they don't notice. And yeah, I agree, it doesn't seem fair. I live very near 3 pubs and people have no respect for neighbours and it's natural to want to protect your property.

Am pretty sure hedges, bamboo and whatnot aren't included in the height thing - only if a neighbour complains because they lose light, or whatever and you don't have those.

 

[cwhaley]

I would go down the planning application route -- have a chat with them and air your concerns over privacy. A local resident to me lives opposite the Co-Op and he was allowed to add another 2ft to his front wall taking the height to 7ft for the same reasons. It looks quite tidy and fitting actually.

The only other option (other than just doing it without their consent) is the natural screening as suggested. My personal favourite is Laurel. Garden centres often stock mature shrubs at good prices -- the one near me did 5ft ones for 9.99 each and they grow quick. Trellis isn't a permanent structure and although they can ask you to take down it rarely happens (from what I've heard over the years) so this is another option. Star jasmine and honeysuckle will grow quick so much so you'll constantly be pruning once established.

Failing these you could give the nod to the next pub-goer you clock eyes with and show him your empty glass?

 

[jagillham]

Thanks all, legalities aside... what would be the best way to actually attach a trellis etc to this fence?

Tempted to approach council, but if they say no... that's a bummer. Also, could they make me take down the existing one? Previous owners put it in, Street View on Google shows been there some point between 2012 & 2016. Prior to that it was an around 8ft conifer shrub wall (which makes this whole law a joke really!)

 

[sodthisforfun]

I can't vouch for them as never used, but you could try something to extend the post height. I can remember seeing something where metal pannels would slot into the concrete post, then could attach the trellis to those. Have a google? There would be a little gap between each extender, but that wouldn't show in time with the plants growing along. I only saw them fleetingly when looking for some hanging brackets for baskets designed for concrete posts, as the concrete posts aren't good to drill into.
Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[ed1178]

Had a similar issue in my last property. I tried to drill the concrete posts and bolt extensions to them, but it was very difficult and looked peculiar. In the end I used timber posts notched to suit the top two arris rails but extend above the existing fence. These were screwed to the arris rails right against the concrete for extra support. I drilled three holes in the top of each and threaded vine wire through them, creating an almost invisible support for clematis and honeysuckle. It didn't solve the privacy issue immediately, but within a year it was well covered. Make sure you leave provision for tightening the wires as they do tend to stretch with time. If you want really a quick growing climber to spread along a wire potato vine is very vigorous but also easy to keep in check.