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.
We handle new fencing and gates as a managed project across Essex: one contract, one contact, and trades working to an agreed specification. Coverage includes Southend-on-Sea, Basildon, Colchester and Chelmsford and their surroundings. In England the consent rules have their own details, which we check for you. Typical prices in the East of England fall within £1,250–£3,200, VAT included, and are fixed in writing after a survey.
- Guide price
- £1,250–£3,200 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–3 days for a typical garden
- Planning rules
- England
- Price level
- About 5% above the national guide
- Towns listed
- 23
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much do new fencing and gates cost in Essex?
Below is a breakdown of typical costs for new fencing and gates in Essex. Because rates in the East of England are about 5% above the national guide, the overall guide comes to £1,250–£3,200, including VAT. Size, materials and access move the figure, and a free-of-charge survey settles it.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Essex |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs or a short run | Replacing a few panels and posts, or a short run of up to about 6m. | £300–£950 |
| Typical garden boundary | About 20m of panel or closeboard fencing with concrete posts and gravel boards. | £1,250–£3,200 |
| Composite or long runs with gates | Composite or premium fencing, longer runs, or a driveway gate. | £3,200–£7,400 |
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’s included?
- Measured survey of each fence run, levels and slopes
- Removal and disposal of the old fence and posts
- Panels or boards fixed level or stepped to follow the ground
- Post caps and capping rails where specified
- Gates hung with hinges, latches and locks
- Site cleared and waste removed
Homes in Essex
Essex ranges from timber-framed and weatherboarded cottages in the north, some with decorative pargeting, to Victorian terraces in Colchester, Chelmsford and Southend. Basildon and Harlow were built as post-war new towns, much of the south-east has interwar suburbs and bungalows, and large new estates continue to appear around Chelmsford and Braintree.
Terraces and semis commonly suit loft conversions and rear extensions, and many bungalows can take a loft room. New-town homes often need cladding, window and roofline renewal, while timber-framed cottages call for lime plaster and repairs that respect the original frame.
Essex is one of the driest counties in England, and London Clay in the south shrinks in dry spells, so trees and foundation depth matter.
Planning and building rules in Essex
Which rules apply depends on where you live. For Essex, the answer is England, and the points below reflect that; we verify them with the council before quoting.
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.
From survey to handover
Free site survey
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for new fencing and gates, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Your fixed price
After the survey we send a quote for new fencing and gates that fixes the price for the scope we've agreed. If you want to change materials or scope, we revise it in writing before anything is booked.
Booking the work
Once you accept, we agree start dates, order materials and deal with any planning, building control or neighbour notices the job needs. You'll know who is coming and when before work begins.
Finish and handover
On site, the agreed plan is followed and any change is put in writing first. At completion we do a final clean, go through the snagging list with you and leave you with the relevant documents.
How we work
Questions about new fencing and gates in Essex
Are concrete posts better than timber?
Concrete posts do not rot and are the most durable choice for panel fences, especially on exposed sites. They are heavier and more utilitarian in appearance. Timber posts look more natural and suit closeboard and featheredge fences, but they eventually rot at ground level, even when treated. Aluminium posts suit composite systems. We recommend posts based on your fence style and exposure.
Which postcodes in Essex do you cover?
We cover SS0, SS13, CO1 and CM1, along with the rest of Essex. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
What kind of gate do I need?
The right gate depends on its job. A side gate for access to the back garden is usually timber or metal, around 0.9m to 1m wide, with a secure lock. Driveway gates are wider, often in pairs, and need strong posts. Composite and metal gates resist warping. We measure the opening, check posts and suggest hinges, latches and locks for security.
How high can my fence be?
Fence height limits depend on planning rules, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you live in. In England, fences up to 2m high are usually permitted development, reduced to 1m next to a road used by vehicles. Higher fences need planning permission. We check the rules for your boundary before quoting.
Can you combine new fencing and gates with other work?
Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan new fencing and gates alongside other work on your Essex home, such as new windows with rendering, or a kitchen refit with an extension. Combining jobs can reduce repeat set-up such as scaffolding, skips and access, and every element is listed and priced in the same written quote.
Towns in Essex
Below is our list of Essex towns for new fencing and gates. If yours isn't shown, we may still cover it, so it is worth asking us directly.