Retaining walls

[danensis]

I've just read this news item:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/7528602.stm

I thought retaining walls over 1.2m high had to have building regs approval?

[matt h]

tragic,and it goesto show how different authorities interpret the regulations...admire the parents attitude, even if i dont really understand their outlook..I would be raging, not that it would do any good:(

[seanandruby]

that is why we dont give advice on walls over 1200 on this site. and we always say to " get a structural engineer to design walls." The gaffer can only do so much, if his advice is not heeded be it on their own heads.

[Tony McC]

There's summat not right there. Building Regs don't apply to free-standing walls, but household insurance cover will have something to say and there are design rules for retaining walls, but, as I'm a flagger rather than a brickie, I'm not 100% clued-up on what is and isn't allowed. I know there's a difference between regulation and recommendation and I suspect that's the source of confusion in Denbighshire.

[lutonlagerlout]

i had a guy who wants a 2 M high wall all round his house,anyway when i enquired to the planners ,i was amazed to learn that any wall over 450mm at the front of a house needs planning permission,i always thought it was 1200 but no 450

tragic with that little girl

LLL

[Dave_L]

I thought it was 900mm?

We've just built a wall at the front of a property 800 high! :rock:

[Tony McC]

There's different rules for walls adjacent to a public highway. I seem to recall the 450mm or less is OK; 450-2000 need PP; and nowt over 2000mm allowed for line-of-sight reasons.

[Dave_L]

Ah, that's alright then!

[lutonlagerlout]

so 900mm needs PP dave
bit of a shocker i know,i spoke to planners and they said its normally incongruous stuff that gets their attention,but its a license to print money really
LLL