High hedges

Eastleigh Borough Council has been given new powers to deal with formal complaints concerning high hedges under Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.

We may be approached as a last resort if all other options to resolve the dispute have been exhausted and unsuccessful. If our planning enforcement team decide that the complainant has met all the requirements of the Act, the complaint will be accepted with the completion of a complaint form and payment of the appropriate fee.

Our fee is £730.00 for dealing with a high hedge complaint.
A concessionary fee of £190.00 applies if the complainant is in receipt of Council Tax or Housing benefits.

Please read the guidance notes before submitting a complaint.

Our role is not to mediate between the complainant and the hedge owner, but to adjudicate on whether the hedge is adversely affecting the complainant's reasonable enjoyment of their property. We must take account of all the relevant factors and strike a balance between the competing interests of the complainant and the hedge owner, as well as those of the community.   

If justified, we will issue a formal remedial notice to the hedge owner, detailing what action is required by them. The complainant and the hedge owner have a right to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate against the decision if they so wish.  

• Further information on making a complaint
• Further information on high hedges complaints: prevention and cure 

We will not explore a complaint until the complainant has made all reasonable efforts to resolve the issue directly with the hedge owner.