Landscapers in London
From a new patio to a full garden rebuild, a good landscaper in London will also know when the work needs permission. We can introduce you to one vetted landscaper who covers your property in London.
Beatrice Vasey is a horticulturist, not a landscaping company. We introduce you to one vetted landscaper and are paid a referral fee by that business.
Permissions for garden work in London
- Planning
- Planning applications in London are decided by your London borough council or the City of London Corporation. In England, paving a front garden doesn't need planning permission if the surface is permeable or drains to a lawn or border; more than 5 m² of impermeable paving does.
- Dropped kerbs
- You need permission from the council that looks after the road before a kerb is lowered for a driveway. Many councils build the crossing themselves or insist on an accredited contractor, and a new crossing often costs £1,500 to £3,000 or more.
- Fences and walls
- Fences, walls and gates can be up to 2 m high without planning permission, or 1 m next to a road used by vehicles or its footpath. In the grounds of a listed building, they need permission.
- Conservation areas
- Permitted development rights are narrower in conservation areas, and councils can remove them with an Article 4 direction, so check with the council if your home is in one.
- Trees
- Digging near a protected tree's roots can need consent too. There's no single London council, so ask the borough council for your address, or the City of London Corporation. The government's planning data map shows some tree preservation orders, but warns its data may be incomplete.
Common landscaping jobs and costs
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Landscaper day rate | About £200 to £400 per person; £300 to £450 in London and the South East |
| Patio | Materials about £40 to £100 per m², plus about £20 to £40 per m² to lay |
| Laying turf | About £11 to £15 per m² |
| Artificial grass | About £50 to £90 per m²; £65 to £110 in London and the South East |
| Fencing | About £110 to £120 per metre, or £200 to £220 per panel |
| Driveway | Resin about £60 to £120 per m²; block paving £115 to £175 per m² |
| Raised beds | Timber 2 m × 1 m about £60 to £300; brick £250 to £500 |
| Whole garden | Small about £2,500 to £8,000; medium £8,000 to £25,000; large £25,000 to £45,000 or more |
Typical prices from published cost guides. Your landscaper quotes for your property.
Your landscaper in London
We pass each London enquiry to one vetted landscaper who covers your property. You get an email naming them before your details are shared, and they quote you directly. We are paid a referral fee by that business, as set out in how our partner network works.
We also arrange landscaping in Reading, Milton Keynes and Brighton and Hove.
In London we can also introduce you to specialists for Japanese knotweed treatment, bat surveys, ecological surveys, tree surveys and tree surgery, all listed on our London page.
Landscapers questions in London
Do I need planning permission to pave my front garden in London?
In England, paving a front garden doesn't need planning permission if the surface is permeable or drains to a lawn or border; more than 5 m² of impermeable paving does.
Do I need permission for a dropped kerb in London?
You need permission from the council that looks after the road before a kerb is lowered for a driveway. Many councils build the crossing themselves or insist on an accredited contractor, and a new crossing often costs £1,500 to £3,000 or more.
How high can a garden fence be in London?
Fences, walls and gates can be up to 2 m high without planning permission, or 1 m next to a road used by vehicles or its footpath. In the grounds of a listed building, they need permission.
Can the landscaper do the planting as well in London?
Usually, yes. Most landscapers plant as part of the job, so include the planting in your brief and ask for a plant list with the quote, so you can check the plants suit your soil and light.
Get a landscaping quote in London
Tell us about your garden and the job. Beatrice reads every enquiry.