Residential Design Guide - SPG3
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4.12
Boundary treatment:
Boundary treatment is a fundamental defining element of street scene because, after the
generally larger elements of buildings and trees, it is the main physical item at eye level to
pedestrians.
The functions of boundary treatments fall into three categories, or combinations of them:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Privacy
Protection
Ownership identification
Appearance
The form of the treatment, eg brickwall, timber fence, railings etc, will be reflective of the
character of the area or the design character desired and can be roughly divided into urban
and rural. However, regard must be given to highway visibility and splays
over private land.
Privacy
Boundary treatment affording privacy must, by definition, be higher than the average person
and incapable of being seen through in the normal course of events.
The normal minimum height for such treatment is 1.8m, although in some
situations, on slopes for instances, higher barriers are required. Such circumstances
require careful treatment because of the potential overshadowing/overbearing effect upon
residents at the lower side and alternative solutions may be preferable.
Overlooking from high level
garden to adjacent property
plus poor aspect for lower
house facing embankment
Abberley View
4.12.1
The deciding factor for selection of solution may be the required usefulness of the land on
either side of the barrier. The lower the gradient the more use it may be.
The visual penetration of privacy barriers need not necessarily be zero as it depends on (a)
what use is being protected, and (b) from where it is being viewed. For instance the
difference between an area of public open space screened from a major passing traffic route
and a private residential garden from an adjacent footpath. The potential "viewing time" of
each is widely different as is the privacy requirement, and it may therefore be adequate to
screen the former with a thick hedge whilst the latter needs a solid fence or wall.
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Residential Design Guide - SPG3
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Collings Avenue
Howlett Place
House ground level - wall makes a
positive visual statement in street scene
Poor appearance to pedestrian
route - too many side elevations and
rear garden fencing, no dwellings
fronting open space/footpath.
The visual penetration of privacy barriers need not necessarily be zero as it depends on (a)
what use is being protected, and (b) from where it is being viewed. For instance the
difference between an area of public open space screened from a major passing traffic route
and a private residential garden from an adjacent footpath. The potential "viewing time" of
each is widely different as is the privacy requirement, and it may therefore be adequate to
screen the former with a thick hedge whilst the latter needs a solid fence or wall.
Whilst the solid, impenetrable barrier provides the ultimate privacy, the short lengths on the
"private" side are visually acceptable as a backcloth to garden planting, but the public side
can present a very hard visual feature in the public area.
St. Peter’s Drive
Very drab appearance from
hard external edge to main
route
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impact/short lengths of internal
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Residential Design Guide - SPG3
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Unless a hard frontage is required, it may be necessary to soften the overall appearance of
the boundary. This could be done with planting (although this forms a maintenance issue) in
areas of set back, or by varying the design and materials in the boundary treatment.
Softening can also be achieved by mixing wall, railings, fencing etc and by varying the
height/profile in the vertical plane and alignment in the horizontal plane.
Protection
The function of the boundary for protection, or security, allows a movement away from a
solid barrier towards mesh fencing, railings, open fencing etc, all of which form a less
intrusive block to view and can therefore use the background to soften their effect.
In appropriate circumstances boundary treatment can also form outdoor art with the use of
ornate railings e.g. art deco style.
Britannia Square
Protection without privacy
Protection with privacy - but
landscaping between fence
and footpath should be solid
shrubs and trees, not grass.
Sanctuary Close
4.12.2
Protection need not necessarily mean split-top, palisade, fencing with razor wire along the
top, which can occur in commercial-use situations, but could be decorative wrought iron
atop a brick plinth.
The primary function of protection is to prevent or deter access which can be psychological
as well as practical, for instance a low barrier which is practically crossable has a
psychological effect to deter such action. Part of this function is also related to the
perception of ownership.
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Residential Design Guide - SPG3
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In rural situations, or to create a softer natural scene, hedges can form very effective
secure barriers as well as decorative ones. The problem with newly planted hedges is
security in the short term whilst it grows. The solution depends upon the precise situation
but is best solved with a fence through and around which the hedge will grow and which is
hen permanently absorbed into the hedge. Fencing types suitable for this can include
railings, hit and miss fence, post and rail fence, chain link, post and wire etc.
Ownership
The need to identify ownership boundaries separately from the needs of protection and
privacy can generally be resolved by ground level identification. This can be achieved by
drawing a line, either with paint or insetting materials such as kerb edges or bricks, installing
spot marks in the same way or using bollards etc, or utilising a wider spreading change of
surface or change of pattern in a wider surface.
Henwick Parade
Ownership no protection
or privacy
Pippen Field
4.12.3
Highway boundary
Changes in surface colour and/or pattern
Ownership to
adjacent property
Pedestrian/vehicle
boundary
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