High hedges

The legislation covers hedges that are over 2 metres in height, and the following conditions must apply:

• consist of a line of 2 or more trees or shrubs
• the hedge is made up mostly of evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs with no significant gaps
• the hedge is blocking light or access to a residential property (including the garden and grounds of the property)

An example of a hedge covered by the legislation would be a row of six conifers, 4 metres high blocking light to the lounge window of a neighbouring house.

An example of a hedge not covered by the legislation would be a row of five 1 metre high beech trees, that lose their leaves in the winter.

You should initially approach your neighbour. You may also like to consider contacting a mediation service to try to resolve the matter between yourselves.

If you are unable to reach agreement with your neighbour, you can contact us as a last resort after all other avenues have been investigated and exhausted. If you submit a formal complaint to us you will need to provide evidence of all the steps you have taken to try to resolve the matter. If you don’t, we will not be able to pursue your complaint.

Complaints must be made on the high hedges complaint form:

• high hedges complaint form

When we are satisfied that the form and documents submitted meet the criteria for a complaint, the formal investigation process can begin.

The Council will invite the owner and any occupier of the land where the hedge is situated to submit representations. Copies of any representations submitted to the Council must be sent to the complainant at the same time.

Following the exchange of representations, we will visit both the property where the hedge is situated and the complainant’s property in order to record the dimensions of the hedge, its species composition, its position relative to property boundaries and buildings, distance between hedge and windows in the complainant’s property and variations in site levels.

We may also require access to the interior of the allegedly affected property. It will also be necessary for us to consider the wider issue of the level of contribution the hedge makes to public amenity; this will include visual and habitat benefits that the hedge provides.