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A starting point for your council enquiry
Choose the nation where the property stands. Height thresholds are only one part of permitted development: local restrictions, road boundaries, listed buildings and previous permissions matter too. The checker cannot establish that a proposal is lawful.
The sources generally describe a one-metre limit under their road-related conditions and two metres elsewhere. Scotland’s householder rules use road-frontage and building-line tests; a simple “next to the road” answer cannot resolve those tests. Scottish results therefore direct you to the council.
How the height comparison works
The tool compares your proposed height with the threshold in the selected national source. For example, 900 mm is below England’s 1,000 mm threshold next to a highway used by vehicles, including its footpath. A result below the threshold still needs checks for property-specific restrictions.
Do not plan a gate to swing over a pavement or road. Check the highway boundary and the applicable rules with the roads authority. A new or widened vehicle access can require separate approval.
Read planning permission by nation or the dropped-kerb guide.
Sources & further reading
Checked 2026-10-25. Specifications and rules can change; confirm before ordering or starting work.