Fencing installation is setting fence posts into the ground, usually in concrete, and fixing panels or boards between them to mark a boundary, add privacy or keep children and pets in, with gates fitted where access is needed.
Cost is usually the first question about new fencing and gates, so here is the guide for the North East: £1,100–£2,700 including VAT. We cover the whole of County Durham, with Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees and Durham among the main centres. Because each UK nation sets its own rules, we check the requirements in England for your property, then put a firm price on paper following a free survey.
- Guide price
- £1,100–£2,700 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–3 days for a typical garden
- Planning rules
- England
- Price level
- About 10% below the national guide
- Towns listed
- 12
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much do new fencing and gates cost in County Durham?
In County Durham, guide figures for new fencing and gates sit at £1,100–£2,700, VAT included. We set them using rates for the North East, currently about 10% below the national guide. The table shows what pushes a project towards either end of the range; your own price is set after a free survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in County Durham |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs or a short run | Replacing a few panels and posts, or a short run of up to about 6m. | £250–£800 |
| Typical garden boundary | About 20m of panel or closeboard fencing with concrete posts and gravel boards. | £1,100–£2,700 |
| Composite or long runs with gates | Composite or premium fencing, longer runs, or a driveway gate. | £2,700–£6,300 |
What moves the price up or down:
- Total length and height of fencing
- Fence style and material: panels, closeboard or composite
- Post type: concrete, timber or aluminium
- Ground conditions, slopes and removal of the old fence
What do you get?
- Measured survey of each fence run, levels and slopes
- Removal and disposal of the old fence and posts
- Concrete or timber gravel boards to keep panels off the soil
- Panels or boards fixed level or stepped to follow the ground
- Post caps and capping rails where specified
- Site cleared and waste removed
Housing across County Durham
Colliery villages across County Durham are lined with brick and stone terraces, many built for mining families. Durham City has Georgian and Victorian streets, Darlington has Victorian terraces and villas, and Peterlee and Newton Aycliffe were planned as post-war new towns. Dales farmhouses in Weardale and Teesdale are stone, often under stone or slate roofs.
Colliery terraces commonly suit loft rooms, rear extensions and window replacement, and many need repointing. New-town homes often benefit from rendering or cladding upgrades and roofline renewal, while stone farmhouses may need lime work.
Winters are cold and the upland dales see snow and strong winds; former coal workings mean ground checks can be needed before building extensions.
Planning and building rules in County Durham
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each handle planning a little differently. County Durham comes under England, covered below, and we raise any questions with the council before your quote is finalised.
In England, fences, walls and gates up to 2 m high are usually permitted development, or up to 1 m where they are next to a road used by vehicles or its footpath. Listed buildings, conservation areas and estates with planning conditions can be stricter.
Building Regulations do not apply to ordinary garden fences, but boundary lines should be agreed with your neighbour first.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
How does the job run?
A visit to your home
It starts with a survey at the property, free of charge. We check condition, access and services, ask how you want the finished result to look, and answer any questions you have about new fencing and gates.
Your fixed price
You get the price in writing, itemised so you can see where the money goes. As long as the specification stays the same, that is the price you pay for new fencing and gates.
Booking the work
Before anyone starts, we confirm the programme in writing, check whether consents are required and arrange deliveries. If a skip or scaffolding on the road needs a permit, we apply for it.
Build and hand over
Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
Do I need planning permission in County Durham?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. County Durham is in England, so England's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Can I stay at home during the work?
In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.
How much does a new fence cost?
About 20m of new panel or closeboard fencing with concrete posts costs £1,100–£2,700, including removal of the old fence. As a guide, allow roughly £55–£130 per metre plus a small fixed cost for removal and waste. Lap panels sit at the lower end, while closeboard, slatted and composite fencing cost more. Gates, slopes and hard ground add to the price. We confirm a fixed price after measuring.
How do you fence a sloping garden?
On a sloping garden, fence panels are usually stepped, so each panel is level and set slightly higher or lower than the one before, with the gap below filled by a gravel board. Closeboard fences can instead follow the slope, giving a smooth top line. The choice depends on how steep the slope is and the look you want. We discuss both at the survey.
How long does it take to replace a fence?
Replacing a typical 20m garden fence usually takes one to two days, including taking down the old fence, setting posts in concrete and fitting panels or boards. Longer runs, slopes, hard ground and gates take longer. Post concrete needs time to set before panels are fully loaded. We give you an expected timeline with your quote.
Towns in County Durham
Homes in all of the following County Durham towns can get a written quote for new fencing and gates. Open a town page to see prices and the postcodes we cover.