How to screen your wheeled bin

Guildford Borough Council has introduced wheeled bins for waste that cannot be recycled or composted. You may want to screen your wheeled bin(s) behind a built enclosure, such as a small brick wall or fence. However, some structures may require planning permission.

Screening
When considering screening, you should think about the character of the area and type of materials proposed. For example, if there is an existing hedge, you may wish to extend this to provide screening. Built enclosures, such as walls or fences, should use materials to match any existing boundary walls or fences, or the materials on the existing property. Here are a few ideas:

You may want to erect screening particularly if the bin(s) will be positioned at the front of the property.

You may want to provide a partial or full screen, or incorporate a door or roof. It could be adjacent to a building, boundary wall, hedge or fence. Some of the ideas below may require planning permission.

Is planning permission required for bin enclosures?
You may not require planning permission for enclosures that are:

• Up to 1 metre in height at the footpath or highway
  boundary.
• Up to 2 metres in height elsewhere within the boundary
  of your property.
  You may need planning permission if your property is:
  
• A Listed Building (may also require Listed Building consent).
• Within a Conservation Area.
• Part of an open plan estate.
• Subject to normal permitted development rights having been removed from your property.

Natural screening, such as hedging and vegetation will not require planning permission, providing that the screening is not enclosing land that is part of an open estate development.
Any supporting structures, such as trellises may require planning permission, depending on their location and height. You will also need to think about how you access the wheeled bins and whether you need a hard surface, like a path, to help move the bins for collecting. Planning permission may be required for a hard surface if it is located to the front of property. This would depend on the size of the area and the type of materials used. To reduce rain water run-off, porous materials are preferred, or you will need to make provision for water to run-off to a porous surface.

Do I need planning permission to erect a screen to enclose my wheeled bin?
If you are in any doubt, you can contact us in one of the following ways:

1. Call us on 01483 444609

2. Visit the Planning Help Desk at Millmead House, where the duty planning officer can give you advice. Our opening hours are Monday to Thursday, from 8.30am to 5pm and Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm.

3. Send us details and a sketch of what you are planning to build/erect. Include the following details:

• Your name, address and post code.
• A description of the screen/enclose/hard-standing you are planning to create, including the materials to be used.
• Include a sketch/diagram including measurements (see the examples below)

Please send all this information to Planning Services, using the address details below. We will aim to respond to your enquiry within 10 working days. Alternatively, you can email the information to the email address in the contact details below. More information on wheeled bins, including their dimensions, can be found on the wheeled bin page.

If planning permission is required, you will need to submit a formal planning application. You can find out more about submitting a planning application online, or visit our planning portal to submit one straight away.

Planning Services
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
GU2 4BB

Tel: 01483 444609
Email: planningenquiries@guildford.gov.uk