Boundary treatment - Policy Guidelines

2. Boundary treatment

The Scheme of Management requires that no material alteration is to be made to the external appearance of any building or structure on an enfranchised property and no new or additional building or structure is to be erected without the prior written approval of the Managers.

The Managers of the Scheme are the Incorporated Trustees of The Dulwich Estate and written approval for alterations is provided to applicants by way of a Licence.

Paragraph 4. requires an owner to keep structures on the property clean and in good repair, including boundary walls and fences.

Both the removal and the construction of walls and fences require approval under the Scheme of Management. Replacement of walls and fences do not require approval provided that these match the existing boundary both in terms of design and materials.

Walls

Low brick walls to front boundaries, where appropriate, should be constructed from facing bricks with brick copings. In most cases, London stock bricks should be used. Whenever works are undertaken to construct or repair foundations, care should be taken not to damage tree roots.

Brick walls should not be painted.

Hedges

One of the most attractive features of gardens and general street scenes in Dulwich is the presence of hedges which can unify not just individual roads, but areas as a whole. Often planted behind a low fence or wall, hedges provide a soft and green landscaped element to front boundaries, relieving what can otherwise be stark and somewhat hard and uncompromising features.

Although works to hedges do not require the approval of the Managers, Paragraph 6. (d) of the Scheme of Management states that nothing shall be done upon any property which may be or grow to be a nuisance, annoyance or damage to any neighbouring owners or which the Managers shall reasonably consider to be detrimental to the neighbourhood.

From time to time and for various reasons, existing hedges have to be replaced and it then becomes a question of which variety to choose. If an evergreen hedge is required, indigenous species such as privet, elaeagnus and euonymus, or tree species such as holly, yew or beech, which have either a moderate or low water demand, are recommended.

Leyland cypress is not recommended as this fast growing tree can achieve a height of over 35 metres (100 ft) and at peak growing time can put on 10 centimetres in a week. Retaining a clipped hedge at a reasonable height is very labour intensive. The girth of the trunk increases rapidly and over time, foliage at the lower level decreases, creating a noticeable line of large trunks.
Leyland cypress is classed by the Building Research Establishment as having a high water demand and is therefore to be avoided in close proximity to buildings.

Generally accepted hedge heights are 1 metre (3ft) for front gardens and 2 metres (6ft) for rear gardens. Most reasonable nurseries provide hedging plants of the more common varieties at the suggested maximum heights and therefore the long wait for a hedge to establish need not be a consideration.

It is important to choose a hedge species which marries into the overall landscape and is indigenous. To introduce an alien hedge species may destroy the harmony of the landscape and is therefore not recommended.

Fences

Different styles of front garden fences include painted and unpainted, open picket fences and close-boarded timber. Often a particular fence type is specific to a group of houses. Details, such as the decoration of fence posts, are often features of the original design and should be retained.

In rear gardens, vertical close-boarded fences often define the boundaries between properties. The original design of fence should be retained when repairs are carried out. Privacy between properties can usually be achieved by careful planting. Raising the height of fences may be detrimental to the amenity of neighbours.

It is a feature of many houses built after 1950 that fences were kept to a minimum - low posts and rails mark the boundaries. The open nature of the landscaping was deliberate and the character of these developments would be changed by introducing higher fences. In these circumstances planting should be used to improve privacy between properties at the rear.

Railings and Gates

In Dulwich, metal railings are often used to define the boundaries of the schools and institutional buildings. Metal railings are not generally a feature of the residential properties. Metal railings and high metal gates are unlikely to be approved as enclosures to residential boundaries.

Please also refer to the General Guidance Notes For Freeholders Of Property Subject To The Scheme of Management Making Application For Building Or Tree Works.

March 2004

Documents

Boundary Treatment Guidance Notes (PDF 280kb)