Bollard Regulations UK

What Are the Rules for Installing Bollards? UK Regulations Explained

Installing a driveway bollard is one of the best security measures you could take to properly and robustly secure your car and prevent or deter theft. But what are the bollard regulations UK homeowners and businesses need to consider before installing them?

The answer depends on where the bollards are being installed, what they’re intended to achieve, and whether they affect public highways, pedestrian routes or other areas of public access.

Let’s break down the key regulations and considerations, starting with whether you need planning permission.

1. Do You Need To Get Any Planning Permission?

Typically, you won’t need any planning permission if you’re trying to install driveway bollards within private property. Therefore, for homeowners who want to install a driveway bollard or two to cover their driveway, as long as it’s on your own property, the process should be relatively straightforward.

However, there isn’t a single set of UK bollard regulations that applies in exactly the same way to every property. Your circumstances, location, and the position of the proposed bollards can all affect what permissions or approvals are required.

If your property is listed or is located within a conservation area, additional planning or heritage controls may apply. This does not automatically mean that every bollard installation requires permission, but it is important to check before carrying out work that could affect a listed building, its setting or the character of a conservation area.

A good rule of thumb is to check with your local planning authority or council before proceeding with installing bollards around the property. They’ll be able to provide specific guidance and rules on whether you’ll require planning permission, as well as additional guidelines for preserving the aesthetic and structural integrity of the property.

Speaking of which, local town or village councils may have their own set of bollard regulations governing their use or installation. For installations affecting public areas or council-owned land, the relevant local authority or highway authority may have specific policies covering bollard placement, design and accessibility. It’s a good idea to consult them prior to installation if you need to understand specific restrictions or requirements that might apply in your local area.

It’s also important to distinguish between installing bollards on your own land and placing them on the public highway. If the proposed location includes a pavement, verge, road, or other land maintained by a highway authority, you shouldn’t assume that you can simply install fixed security bollards there yourself. Permission from the relevant authority may be required.

2. The Highways Act 1980 And The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

This is probably not going to be relevant to all homeowners who just want to install a set of driveway bollards around your home or driveway. But just in case, it’s worth keeping in mind any potential obstruction of public walkways or spaces.

Bollards must never obstruct public footpaths, sidewalks, or roads. Any bollard installation should leave appropriate space for safe pedestrian movement and should not create an unnecessary hazard or obstruction. This is particularly important for wheelchair users, mobility scooters and people with visual or other accessibility requirements.

Concerning the installation of a bollard or two, there are two important pieces of current regulations here in the UK: The Highways Act 1980 and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, respectively. Neither Act is a simple set of “bollard regulations”, but both can be relevant where bollards interact with public highways and traffic management.

Highways Act 1980

The purpose of the Highways Act 1980 is to consolidate highway and roadway regulations in both England and Wales.

This act matters if you’re installing bollards near public highways. In short, it ensures that the placement of those bollards won’t obstruct highways or footpaths. Where bollards are proposed on or beside a public highway, the highway authority will need to consider matters such as highway safety, pedestrian access, and the effect on the highway.

Moreover, this act outlines what constitutes an obstruction (such as a bollard that is blocking a footpath), and there can be legal consequences for unlawfully obstructing a highway.

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984:

Superseding the older Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967, the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 is a much more comprehensive piece of legislation that aims to thoroughly regulate road traffic. For us, the relevant parts here include the management and control of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, with the relevant regulatory framework.

This act is equally as relevant as the Highways Act 1980, given that it includes the creation of TROs (aka traffic regulation orders), which encompass restrictions and guidance on the placement of obstructions on public roads and footpaths. Where traffic bollards form part of a wider traffic management scheme, the relevant highway authority will need to consider the appropriate legal orders, signs, road markings, and other measures.

Local authorities rely on this act to implement traffic management measures and manage road obstructions, including bollards. In so doing, they’re able to ensure that bollards don’t impede traffic flow and are installed/placed safely and are based on the relevant accessibility guidelines.

This is why traffic bollard regulations can be more involved than the rules surrounding a simple security bollard on private land. If bollards are intended to restrict vehicle access, create a pedestrian zone or control traffic on a public road, professional advice and approval from the relevant highway authority may be necessary.

3. Are There Building Regulations To Consider?

Another consideration when installing driveway bollards is whether the installation involves significant alterations or groundwork. It’s worth bearing in mind that significant changes to your driveway, which can impact all your immediate surrounding areas, may require compliance with building regulations. As tedious as it may be, it’s a good thing, as these building regulations ensure changes are done safely and are structurally sound.

In our experience, we know that installing driveway bollards as an entirety requires relatively minimal construction. But often, some installation procedures require extensive groundwork. For instance, if you’re installing an automated, electro-mechanical driveway bollard, you’ll need to dig a trench under your driveway, to lay piping and run wiring or cables to your home. The bollard itself would not normally be subject to Building Regulations simply because it is a bollard, but associated electrical, structural or drainage works may bring other requirements into consideration.

For example, automated or rising bollards involve electrical equipment, underground services and potentially substantial excavation. The exact requirements will depend on the installation, so it’s sensible to establish what approvals, inspections or competent-person requirements apply before work begins.

This isn’t something most regular homeowners are aware of, so we suggest consulting a surveyor or building professional for added clarity on whether a driveway bollard installation needs to adhere to any specific building regulations. They can also advise on best practices for installing a driveway bollard or two, ensuring both safety and legal compliance. You could also contact Bollard Security if you need help deciding where to start.

4. Do Safety Standards Play A Role When Installing Bollards?

For optimal results and peace of mind, consider several safety standards and guidelines when shopping for and installing driveway bollards around your home. First, there’s the impact resistance and strength of those aforementioned driveway bollards:

Bollards should be strong enough to stop a vehicle, particularly for security purposes. This is vital for preventing unauthorised access to your driveway and protecting your property from vehicle threats, related attacks, or damage.

Of course, the strength and durability of the bollards don’t apply the same way to every user. If you’re a regular homeowner who needs fixed bollards strong enough to stop thieves from driving off with your car, or if you want to prevent unwanted visitors from parking on your driveway, you won’t need strong anti-ram properties.

But if you’re installing bollards to protect a commercial property or business assets, as well as high-risk areas where vehicle access needs to be highly controlled, you’ll want something more heavy-duty. At Bollard Security, we’ve serviced residential, commercial, and industrial clients, so we have bollards for any occasion.

For higher-risk locations, the important question isn’t just whether a bollard is “strong”, but whether its tested performance is appropriate for the vehicle threat it’s intended to address. This can be particularly important around commercial sites, government buildings, public spaces, train stations, car parks, and other locations where vehicular threats need to be assessed carefully.

PAS 68 And IWA 14-1

PAS 68 and IWA 14-1 are recognised vehicle security barrier impact-testing standards. They provide classifications that allow the performance of vehicle security barriers to be assessed against specified vehicle types, speeds and impact conditions.

They aren’t blanket legal requirements for every security bollard installation. Instead, they’re useful standards for assessing the performance of products where protection against a defined vehicle threat is required.

At Bollard Security, we offer driveway bollards featuring Sold Secure accreditation, including products with Gold accreditation, as well as the Secure by Design (SBD) security standard. These accreditations can provide additional assurance when selecting security products, although not every domestic driveway requires a high-security, vehicle-resistant bollard.

The right choice should therefore be based on the site, the potential vehicle threat and the level of protection required.

Bollard Visibility

Visibility is another important consideration when installing security bollards. Bollards should be sufficiently noticeable to both drivers and pedestrians, particularly in areas with high foot traffic, limited visibility or complex pedestrian movement.

Reflective strips or coatings, appropriate lighting and contrasting colours can all help make non illuminated traffic bollards more visible. Their positioning should also avoid creating unnecessary hazards or confusion, particularly where vehicular and pedestrian traffic share the same space.

Visibility is especially important in areas with high foot traffic, limited visibility, or complex pedestrian movement. Current accessibility guidance also stresses the importance of making bollards and other street furniture noticeable to people who are visually impaired, while avoiding arrangements that unnecessarily restrict pedestrian movement.

5. How Should Bollards Be Spaced?

One of the most important considerations when installing bollards is their spacing. Bollard arrangement needs to prevent unwanted vehicle access without creating unnecessary obstacles for pedestrians.

There is no single spacing measurement that applies when installing security bollards in the UK. The appropriate arrangement depends on what the bollards are intended to achieve, where they’re being installed, and who needs to pass through the space. Accessibility guidance, highway requirements, and the type of traffic being controlled should all be considered.

Pedestrian Access

Driveway bollards should be spaced widely enough to ease passage for pedestrians, particularly for folks with physical disabilities. A commonly recognised 1.2m dimension appears in UK accessibility and vehicle security guidance, but it should not be treated as a universal legal minimum for every situation.

In addition to wheelchairs, this minimum spacing distance also enables prams, bicycles, and personal mobility vehicles to pass through without obstruction.

On routes used by pedestrians and cyclists, a wider clearance may be appropriate. Active Travel England guidance recommends a minimum 1.5m horizontal clearance around barriers and bollards on active travel routes.

The key principle is to avoid forcing people into narrow pedestrian pathways, awkward routes, or areas where they may come into conflict with vehicles. Before installing bollards, consider the natural pedestrian walkways through the site and how pedestrian movement will work once the security measures are in place.

Vehicular Access

When bollards are being used to restrict vehicle access – i.e. preventing your car from being stolen and driven off your driveway, or making sure unwanted guests don’t park in your driveway – they need to be positioned closely enough to prevent the intended vehicles from passing through. At the same time, their arrangement shouldn’t create unnecessary hazards for pedestrians.

A good guideline is to place your driveway bollards about 1.2 metres apart. This should be more than enough to prevent most cars, even smaller ones, from driving through. For most homeowners who need to safeguard a single-car driveway, this spacing should be sufficient.

For commercial premises, car parks, and other sites with more complex flow conditions, bollard arrangement should be based on the vehicles using the site, the required access points, emergency access requirements, and pedestrian movement. Copying a residential spacing arrangement may not provide maximum efficacy or adequate accessibility.

Where fixed bollards are being used to restrict vehicle access, positioning is just as important as spacing. Bollards should be placed so that they prevent vehicles from bypassing the intended barrier without creating unnecessary hazards for people walking or wheeling through the area.

6. What About Car Park Bollard Regulations UK?

Car park bollards regulations are not covered by one specific piece of UK legislation. The requirements can depend on whether the car park is private or publicly accessible, whether the bollards are being used for security or traffic management, and whether they affect pedestrian routes or the public highway.

For private car parks, commercial premises, and industrial sites, the owner or operator is responsible for ensuring that the bollard installation is safe, suitable for its intended purpose and does not create unnecessary risks for users. This means considering both vehicle access and pedestrian safety when deciding where to place bollards.

For publicly accessible car parks, additional accessibility considerations are particularly important. Bollards should not create narrow pedestrian pathways that are difficult for wheelchair users or people using mobility scooters to navigate. They should also be sufficiently visible, particularly where vehicles and foot traffic share the same space.

If a car park connects directly to a public highway or involves changes to the highway itself, the relevant highway authority may have additional requirements. Local councils and planning departments may also have their own policies, so it’s advisable to check local requirements before installing bollards to ensure compliance.

Bollard Regulations UK: Getting The Right Advice

All in all, this should give you a quick but thorough rundown of the bollard regulations UK property owners and businesses should consider. The important thing to remember is that there isn’t one universal set of rules covering every bollard installation.

Planning requirements, highway legislation, accessibility guidance, security standards, and local authority policies can all become relevant depending on where and why you’re installing bollards. A residential area driveway will have very different considerations from a busy commercial car park, pedestrian zone, or high-risk public building.

Getting the positioning and specification right from the beginning can help you avoid creating unnecessary pedestrian conflicts while ensuring your bollards provide the level of security you actually need.

If you’re still unsure about where to get started with fitting driveway bollards, you’re in luck! We have over 15 years of experience installing and maintaining security solutions across the UK, and can help you identify suitable bollard options for residential, commercial and industrial applications.

So, don’t hesitate to contact us at 01535 920362 for recommendations and tips on the best driveway bollards for you.