Most new fences in Solihull are straightforward replacements: a tired run of panels behind a Shirley or Olton semi, or a longer featheredge boundary on a Knowle or Dorridge plot. The questions that change the job here are about where the fence sits. Is it at the front of an open-plan estate, inside one of the borough's 20 conservation areas, or along a ditch at the edge of the fields?
Ground and Gate doesn't do the work. We pass your enquiry to one local fencing specialist who covers the B90 to B94, B36 and B37 postcodes, and they confirm a fixed price with you directly.
What a new fence costs in Solihull
Rates are per metre, supply and fit, waste included, indicative for the West Midlands.
| Style | Under 1m | About 1.2m | About 1.8m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overlap panels | £36–£54 | £48–£72 | £60–£90 |
| Featheredge / closeboard | £57–£81 | £76–£108 | £95–£135 |
| Slatted / contemporary | £78–£114 | £104–£152 | £130–£190 |
| Post and rail | £24–£39 | £32–£52 | £40–£65 |
Then add:
| Extra | Per metre |
|---|---|
| Concrete posts instead of timber | about £10 |
| Removing and taking away the old fence | £8–£15 |
These are the same ranges we use across the West Midlands. In Solihull the long, straight back gardens of Shirley and Olton tend to mean runs of 20 metres or more on each side, so the per-metre rate matters more than the minimum charge. On the rural edge of Knowle, Hockley Heath and Hampton-in-Arden, post and rail against farmland is common and keeps the cost down. The fence cost per metre guide has worked examples.
What pushes the price up here
- Heavy ground. Solihull Council's own drainage design guide says the borough has predominantly clay soils. Post holes in clay are slow to dig, and wet clay at the bottom of a hole needs the concrete to go in promptly.
- Long runs and stepped gardens. Large Knowle and Dorridge plots often need 40 metres or more of fence, and gentle slopes mean stepped panels or a raked featheredge.
- Taking the old fence away. Removal adds £8–£15 a metre. If you plan to take it yourself, the tip rules below matter.
- Access. Many 1930s semis have a shared side drive or a garage across the side. If everything has to go through the house, expect about 15–20% on top.
- Concrete posts. Worth the extra £10 a metre on exposed boundaries backing onto open fields.
Front fences, conservation areas and open-plan estates
The 20 conservation areas. Solihull lists 20 conservation areas, including Knowle, Olton, Station Approach Dorridge, Malvern Hall and Brueton Avenue, Hampton-in-Arden and White House Way. The council's general guidance, updated in February 2025, says that inside a conservation area you need planning permission to demolish any gate, fence or wall that is 1 metre or more high next to a highway, including a public right of way, or 2 metres or more elsewhere. So taking down an old front fence in one of these areas is not just a fencing decision. Check the boundary on the council's Conservation, Heritage and Enforcement map first.
White House Way. This 1960s estate off Blossomfield Road became a conservation area in 1999, and the council then made an Article 4 direction on the houses, bringing minor alterations under planning control. The council's 2026 appraisal describes its open-plan front gardens as a continuous green space flanking the roads. A new front fence there cuts straight across that, so talk to the planners at planning@solihull.gov.uk before you order anything.
Other open-plan estates. Front height limits are covered in our guide to the 1m rule next to a road. On newer estates, the planning permission for the estate or your deeds can also limit what goes at the front.
Fences near roads, verges and ditches
Corner plots. Solihull's dropped-kerb guidance lists poor visibility as a reason for refusing a driveway crossing, and says roads with a 30mph limit or higher need greater clear visibility. If a new fence on a corner or beside a drive blocks the view of the pavement, it can make a future kerb application harder.
Openings for a drive. If you plan to cut a drive through a front fence or hedge later, the council wants the opening at the back of the footway to be at least 2.7 metres wide.
Ditches and brooks. The council's flooding page says landowners are responsible for any watercourse, ditch or culvert within or next to their land. If your fence line runs along or across one, works that affect the flow of an ordinary watercourse may need consent from Solihull as the Lead Local Flood Authority.
Getting rid of the old fence
Most specialists price removal in and take the timber away as trade waste. If you would rather do it yourself, Bickenhill Household Waste and Recycling Centre on Coventry Road (B92 0DY) accepts wood and timber, but only from Solihull residents, by booked 15-minute slot, with proof of residency. It does not take trade or commercial waste. A van, pick-up or large trailer needs a permit, and the council moved to digital permits from 3 August 2026. Winter hours run from 1 November to 31 March, with earlier closing.
What the job involves
- Checks. The specialist confirms the boundary line, any shared ownership, and whether the fence is at the front, in a conservation area or next to a ditch.
- Taking down. The old panels and posts come out, and old concrete footings are broken out where they are in the way.
- Posts. New posts are set in concrete at the right spacing, with gravel boards on concrete-post fences.
- Panels or boards. Panels go in, or featheredge is built on site, and the waste leaves with the crew unless you have agreed otherwise.
Questions about new fences in Solihull
Do I need permission to take down a front fence in Olton or Knowle?
If the house is inside the Olton or Knowle conservation area and the fence is 1 metre or more high next to the road, Solihull says demolishing it needs planning permission. Replacing a rear fence of the same height is a different matter. Check the council's map before the old fence comes down.
Can I put a fence across my open-plan front garden on White House Way?
Probably not without talking to the council first. White House Way has an Article 4 direction on its houses, and the council's appraisal treats the open-plan front gardens as part of what makes the estate special. Email the planners before you order anything.
Will Bickenhill tip take my old fence panels?
Yes, if you live in Solihull and bring them yourself. Wood and timber are accepted, but you need a booked slot and proof of address, and a van or large trailer needs a permit. Trade waste is not accepted, so a fencing firm can't use your booking.
My Hockley Heath garden backs onto a ditch. Can the fence go on the bank?
Talk to the specialist and the council before it does. Landowners are responsible for ditches next to their land, and works that affect the flow of a watercourse can need consent from Solihull Council. Leaving room to clear the ditch is usually the safer choice.