HIGH HEDGES

The Government has introduced rules to enable councils to solve long running hedge disputes where neighbours cannot agree a solution.

The new legislation is much needed for those people whose lives are being seriously affected by an extremely high or damaging evergreen hedge.

It is not illegal to have a high hedge as long as it's not causing a confirmed and actionable problem for your neighbour. This is a means of arriving at a solution to problems affecting the "reasonable enjoyment" of a neighbour's house or garden but only as a result of the excess height of a hedge.

The Council can only get involved if you can demostrate that you have tried to solve the problem with your neighbour. You may find it helpful to read 'Over the garden hedge'.

If a high hedge is causing you problems and you cannot solve it yourself, then you can download a Complaint form  (43.37 KB) or visit or contact the Malvern Customer Service Centre (see below).

See also:

• Complaining to the Council  (381.68 KB)
• Prevention and Cure  (577.83 KB)
• Over the Garden Hedge  (1.05 MB)

If your complaint is valid, for a fee of £300 the environmental services team will assess the problem and see how far a hedge should be reduced. The most it can ever be asked to be reduced is to two metres high.

The decision will be enforced where informal action is not acted on and the Council will serve a "Recommendation Notice" on the hedge owner who will then have to maintain their hedge to within 50 cms of that height.

If you require any further information or assistance contact: