Entrance gates can improve privacy, security, kerb appeal and the overall appearance of a property. They can also change how a driveway, front garden or entrance is used, especially where new gates are combined with boundary walls, railings, piers, lighting, intercoms or a dropped kerb.

​

Planning issues often arise because entrance gates are usually on the most visible part of the property. Under Planning Portal guidance for England, a fence, wall or gate next to a highway used by vehicles, or the footpath of that highway, should not exceed 1 metre in height unless planning permission is obtained. Elsewhere, the normal limit is 2 metres, subject to other restrictions.

​

Planning permission may also be needed where the site is listed, within the curtilage of a listed building, forms a boundary with a neighbouring listed building, or where permitted development rights have been removed by an Article 4 Direction or planning condition. In conservation areas, permission may also be needed to take down a fence, wall or gate.

​

Planning issues can arise where:

​

• New driveway gates are proposed

• Existing entrance gates are being made higher

• Gate piers, walls or railings are being added

• The entrance is next to a road, pavement or public highway

• The proposed gates are over 1 metre high at the front

• The gates affect driveway visibility or vehicle access

• The gates are part of a new driveway or dropped kerb project

• The property is in a conservation area

• The property is listed or close to a listed building

• The street has a consistent open-plan frontage

• The gates are large, solid, modern or visually prominent

• The council needs drawings to confirm the height, position and design

​

​

Ask PAS About Entrance Gate Plans and Drawings

 

Entrance gate applications often depend on clear drawings. The council needs to understand where the gates sit, how high they are, what they look like from the street and how they relate to the existing boundary.

​

Planning Application Services (PAS) can prepare entrance gate plans, elevation drawings and supporting information to help explain the proposal clearly.

​

PAS can help show:

​

• The existing front boundary

• The proposed gate position

• The height of the gates from ground level

• The height and position of any gate piers

• The width of the driveway entrance

• The relationship to the pavement, road or highway

• The proposed materials and finish

• Whether the gates are solid, open, timber, metal or composite

• Whether the gates are manual, sliding or automated

• How the gates relate to walls, railings, fencing or landscaping

• Whether planning permission or a lawful development certificate may be suitable

​

PAS can prepare plans and drawings for:

​

• Driveway entrance gates

• Pedestrian gates

• Sliding gates

• Swing gates

• Automated gates

• Timber gates

• Metal gates

• Estate-style gates

• Contemporary entrance gates

• Gate piers

• Low walls with gates

• Railings with gates

• Front boundary alterations

• Entrance gates in conservation areas

• Retrospective gate planning applications

• Gates linked to driveways or dropped kerbs

​

​

Gate Height, Piers and Street Appearance

 

Entrance gates are often judged not only by their height, but also by their overall visual impact.

​

A pair of tall solid gates can feel very different from low open railings, even if both are in the same position. Gate piers can also make the entrance appear larger and more enclosed, especially where brick, stone, rendered or modern panelled finishes are used.

​

PAS can help prepare drawings that show:

​

• Gate height

• Pier height

• Pier width

• Boundary wall height

• Opening width

• Materials and colours

• Existing and proposed street elevation

• Relationship to neighbouring frontages

• Whether the design looks open, enclosed, traditional or contemporary

​

This is particularly important where the property is in a conservation area, on a prominent street, or where the council is likely to care about the character of the frontage.

​

​

Driveway Access, Visibility and Dropped Kerbs

 

Entrance gates can also affect access. The council may want to understand whether vehicles can safely enter and leave the site, whether visibility is affected and whether the gates are connected to a new or existing driveway access.

​

This can matter where:

​

• A new driveway entrance is being created

• A dropped kerb is also needed

• The entrance is close to a junction

• The road is busy

• The pavement is narrow

• The gates are close to the highway

• Vehicles may need to stop while gates open

• The proposal includes automated gates, intercoms or access controls

​

PAS can prepare drawings to show the gate position, driveway layout, boundary treatment and relationship to the road or pavement.

​

​

What an Entrance Gate Planning Package May Include

 

The exact information depends on the property, location and design, but a typical entrance gate package may include:

​

• Site location plan

• Block plan

• Existing front boundary layout

• Proposed entrance gate layout

• Existing street-facing elevation

• Proposed street-facing elevation

• Gate and pier dimensions

• Height notes from ground level

• Materials and finish notes

• Photos of the existing frontage

• Street scene photos where useful

• Driveway and access information

• Dropped kerb information where relevant

• Supporting planning notes

• Lawful development certificate support where appropriate

• Planning application submission support

​

A clear drawing package helps the council understand the gate design and gives the homeowner a proper record of what has been applied for or confirmed.

​

​

Why Professional Support Helps

 

Entrance gates can look like a simple supplier-led project, but planning problems often arise when the height, position, frontage and highway relationship are not checked properly.

​

Professional support can help you avoid:

​

• Assuming tall driveway gates are automatically allowed

• Missing the 1 metre highway rule

• Failing to show gate piers clearly

• Submitting supplier sketches instead of planning drawings

• Overlooking conservation area or Article 4 restrictions

• Ignoring listed building or curtilage issues

• Creating visibility or access concerns

• Ordering gates before checking planning requirements

• Forgetting that walls, railings and piers may also matter

• Needing a retrospective application after installation

• Delays caused by council requests for clearer drawings

​

PAS can help prepare the drawings and application information so the gate proposal is clear before fabrication, ordering or installation.

​

​

Full-Service Support from PAS

 

PAS can provide support from the first planning check through to the application and next stages.

​

This may include:

​

• Initial project review

• Entrance gate plans and drawings

• Existing and proposed elevation drawings

• Gate pier and wall drawings

• Site and block plans

• Height and highway-position review

• Planning application support

• Lawful development certificate support

• Conservation area support

• Article 4 planning support

• Retrospective gate planning support

• Help responding to council queries

• Support where gates form part of a driveway, dropped kerb or wider frontage project

​

Entrance gates can make a property feel more secure and complete, but the height, position, design and planning route should be checked before the gates are ordered or installed.

​

​

Get expert help with your entrance gate project

 

Whether you need entrance gate plans, driveway gate drawings, gate pier elevations, a lawful development certificate, Article 4 support, a retrospective application or a full planning application, Planning Application Services (PAS) can help you understand what is needed and provide a clear quote for the right level of support.

​

Tell us what you are planning, send any photos, sketches, existing drawings or gate supplier details you have, and we can advise on the next steps.