Bigger chart for printing

Diagram worked out and drawn by Derek Glew

1. BRE heights for hedges which allow 'enough' light into gardens
To use the diagram to find BRE heights for light entering into gardens first work out whether the hedge is to the N. S. W. or E. of your garden and measure how far away it is in metres. Then mark off that number of metres along the horizonal axis. Put another mark directly above on the appropriate slanting line (e.g. hedges to West of gardens). Look directly across to the vertical axis which will give you the 'BRE height' for the hedge.

2. BRE heights for hedges opposite ground floor windows which allow 'enough' light into these windows
There are 2 separate scales of measurements for 'light entering into windows'. One of these is represented on the diagram by the line, 'hedges opposite windows - all directions'.

3. BRE heights for hedges to the sides of windows which allow 'enough' light into these windows
These heights (which are not shown on above diagram) range from just about satisfactory, if the hedge is extremely close to the window, to quite unreasonably high if further away. To find the BRE height take the distance from the centre of window to the boundary on which the hedge stands and add 1m.
The BRE hedge height will be 2.5m at 1.5m to the side of the centre of a ground floor window, 7m at 6m to the side.
If the hedge is more than 1m behind the boundary then you have to add the distance between the boundary and the hedge. If, as is most likely, the heights are not good for you, look at the other criteria

*BRE sets down methods for calculating hedge heights for allowing 'enough' light into gardens which are not rectangular and into windows where side hedges are at odd angles.

*Only main living room windows are considered with regard to light loss or with regard to any other of the allowed criteria for complaint; not bathrooms and landings and not conservatories and outbuildings.

The 'High Hedges Law' allows a number of grounds ^* for claiming hedge height reduction. Victims using the new Law must familiarise themselves with these and realise that claiming loss of light as the ONLY form of nuisance may produce unsatisfactory results in quite a few situations.
It is not enough merely to say you do not like the look of a hedge. It is, of course, not enough merely to say you do not like the look of a hedge. The grounds for claiming height reduction are as follows, -

• whether it cuts off to much light+sunlight as set out in the new revision of the ('BRE Guidelines' - building regulation standards);
  The only objective set of measurements comes in the 'BRE Guidelines' We are worried that the LA officers may rely on them too much. As can be seen from the above diagram, in some situations these do not give reasonable hedge heights.
• whether it is so high as to be oppressive and so results in loss of your reasonable enjoyment of your property. You have to be able to argue that it prevents you from making use of your garden as you would wish;
• whether it is so high as to be disproportionate to your garden and results in loss of amenity. It is out of scale in a garden of the size of yours, dominates it and prevents you from making use of your garden as you would wish;
• whether it cuts off a cherished view, especially a more distant view - (views which would be cut off by a 2m hedge are not counted);
• whether the hedge is of a safe height for trimming (less than 2.5m), but only if the LA officer agrees that it needs trimming in its situation in the garden;
• whether, because of its height, it damages plant growth.

^*Note - these grounds are taken from the DRAFT Guidance for local authorities. (September 04)

NB Root damage is not allowed as the Law only deals with factors to do with the height of the hedge.

Mid-winter sunlight deprivation is a grey area at present.

Some victims still think still think all problem high hedges are coming down to 2m under the 'High Hedges Law'. This is totally untrue.

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