A lot of Didcot's fencing work is on newer homes. On estates like Ladygrove and Great Western Park, people often want to upgrade the original builder's fencing, add height or trellis for privacy, or put in a lockable side gate. In the older streets around the station and in Northbourne, it's more often replacing worn-out panels behind Victorian terraces with limited access. Harwell adds village gardens with longer boundaries. If you're on a newer estate, check your deeds and the original planning conditions before changing front boundaries, as some estates were designed to stay open-plan. Part of Great Western Park is in the Vale of White Horse rather than South Oxfordshire, so check which council covers your road. Tell us about the job and we'll pass it to up to three local fencers.
Under national permitted development rules, a fence, wall or gate can usually be up to 2 metres high, or 1 metre next to a road used by vehicles, without planning permission. Different rules can apply at listed buildings, in conservation areas and on some estates with planning conditions, so check with South Oxfordshire District Council if you're unsure. Didcot itself is in South Oxfordshire, but part of Great Western Park, Valley Park and Harwell are in the Vale of White Horse, so check which council covers your address.
Fences put up during construction are often lightweight. When replacing them, ask for quotes on heavier closeboard or concrete posts so you're not doing it again in a few years.
Make sure each quote states the panel or board type, post type, post spacing and height, so you're not comparing a lightweight panel against a heavier closeboard run.
Some newer estates have covenants or a management company with rules on fences and gates. It's worth checking your paperwork before ordering materials.
Conservation areas and listed buildings. Didcot has small conservation areas (Station Road, the old town and Northbourne), and so does Harwell village. Most of the new-build estates are not in one. If that applies to you, check with South Oxfordshire District Council before you start. This is general guidance, not planning advice.