Service request

A high hedge is a hedge that is: 

• formed wholly or mainly by a row of 2 or more trees or shrubs 
• rises to a height of more than 2 metres above ground level 
• a barrier to light - unless gaps in the hedge significantly reduce its overall effect as a barrier to light at heights of more than 2 metres above ground level. 

Individual trees or shrubs or areas of woodland that form a barrier to light are not a high hedge. 

If the hedge does not meet the definition of a high hedge, as stated in the High Hedge (Scotland) Act 2013 , you cannot apply for a high hedge notice.

High hedge notices

You can apply for a high hedge notice if: 

• it meets the definition of a high hedge 
• you believe it interferes with the reasonable enjoyment of your property 
• you’ve already attempted to resolve the dispute yourself. 

You can read the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013 (Legislation.gov.uk). It governs how we handle high hedge notice applications. 

The Scottish Government also have detailed guidance explaining how high hedge notice applications are handled by local authorities.

What you should do first 

A high hedge notice is intended to be a last resort for the minority of cases where the people involved cannot settle the dispute themselves.  

If you have an issue with a neighbour about a high hedge, you must try and resolve it between you first. 

Unless you can show you’ve attempted to resolve the issue with the hedge owner, we cannot consider requests for a high hedge notice. 

We have a free mediation service that can help resolve disputes with neighbours. 

If it’s a high hedge issue in a public area, you can tell us online about an overgrown hedge.

You can only apply for a high hedge notice if you’re the owner or occupier of a residential property.  

However, any owner of land or property where the high hedge is an issue, including other residential, business, industrial, or commercial properties, can be served a high hedge notice. 

If your property and other neighbours’ properties are affected by the same hedge, you must all apply for a high hedge notice individually.  

We’ll assess each individual property. If any action is required, we’ll issue a notice for each property affected by the high hedge.

Before you apply, you must have made at least 2 attempts to resolve the matter with the hedge owner in the last 6 months. 

You must be able to provide evidence of this, for example, you’ve sent 2 letters to the hedge owner informing them you are applying for a high hedges notice. The evidence must be provided in written format. If you’ve sent letters by post to them, you must also include proof of delivery. 

You should read the guidance on high hedge disputes on the Scottish Government website before making an application. 

On your application, you’ll need to tell us: 

• eligibility to apply for a high hedge notice 
• your details - address, contact information, and the address of the property affected by the high hedge (if it’s different from your address) 
• location of the high hedge and the owner’s details 
• what impact the high hedge has on your property, including a plan showing what you consider to be the high hedge and its relationship to your property – you can also upload photos 
• what steps you’ve taken to resolve the issue 
• fee details, and evidence to support a fee reduction if you believe you’re eligible.

If you cannot provide all the information required, we will not be able to accept your high hedge application, and it’ll be returned to you.

Apply online for a high hedge notice

We’ll review your application within 5 working days to: 

• see if it is eligible 
• check that all the required information has been submitted. 

If it’s eligible and there are no grounds to dismiss it, we’ll acknowledge the application as a valid and complete submission and begin our assessment. 

We’ll send a copy of the application to the owner of the hedge in question once we have removed any sensitive or personal information.  

The owner can then choose to provide justification as to why they think a high hedge notice should not be served.

Our decision 

A case officer will review all the information provided to decide whether the hedge has a detrimental effect on the enjoyment of the property which you could reasonably expect to have. 

We’ll weigh up how the hedge affects what the applicant can reasonably expect to enjoy about their property, against the value and enjoyment of the hedge owner and the surrounding area. 

If the hedge has a detrimental impact, we’ll decide if we need to take action. We’ll only intervene where it is reasonable, proportionate, and necessary. 

If we do, we’ll serve a high hedge notice on the hedge owner, telling them what action needs to be taken and how it will be carried out. 

We’ll notify you and the hedge owner of the outcome.

How long it’ll take 

There are no set timescales for determining a high hedge application. We’ll assess your application in a timely manner and as soon as reasonably possible. 

However, timescales will vary depending on each case. In some more complex cases it may take longer to assess and process the application.

If you’re not happy with our decision

If you’re not happy with our decision not to serve a high hedge notice, you can appeal to the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA). 

You cannot appeal if we refuse your application:  

• because the definition of a high hedge has not been met  
• you have not made sufficient attempts to resolve the issue yourself. 

It costs £200 to apply for a high hedge notice. The fee applies to each owner or occupier of an affected property applying for a high hedge notice.  

Some people may qualify for reductions we’ll consider this when you make a submission. 

Refunds 

You’ll get a full refund if we decide at the initial inspection that your application is not eligible. This means we consider: 

• the hedge does not meet the definition of a high hedge 
• you have not taken all reasonable steps to resolve the matters before applying 
• we consider the application to be frivolous or vexatious (for example, the application is being made because of a neighbour dispute). 

You’ll get a full refund if you withdraw the application before we have started processing it.

Check if you need planning permission.

Sometimes, developers or homeowners do work without getting the required permission or consent first, or they do work that’s not covered by the permission or consent we’ve given them.

These cases are called ‘planning breaches’.

If you’re aware of a planning breach, you can report it to us, and we’ll investigate it.

The purpose of planning enforcement is to find a solution rather than to punish what is often a mistake. Any action we take will be appropriate to the scale of the breach and the harm it may have caused. In many cases, the outcome is to have the person submit a retrospective planning application.

Find out more about planning enforcement:

Anyone can report a suspected planning breach.

We will not accept anonymous reports unless the suspected breach is a serious risk to public health and safety.

Your personal details will remain confidential – we will not make them public. However, we may need to reveal the points of your report in the case of Freedom of Information requests or court cases.

You’ll need to tell us:

• the property’s address (where the suspected planning breach is)
• as many details as possible about the breach (the Planning Enforcement Charter lists what information is required depending on the type of breach)
• how the breach affects you and others
• your name and contact details.

Report a planning breach

We prefer to receive reports online.

If you do not want to report online, you can send us your report in the post:

Timescales depend on the case, since each investigation is unique.

Usually, we’ll aim to contact you within:

• 5 working days to acknowledge your report
• 28 working days with an update after our investigation.

You can share your view on a proposed development in Renfrewshire by commenting on its planning application. You can:

• support the application
• object to the application
• make a neutral comment.

We will not grant planning permission to a proposal just because lots of people support the application, and we will not refuse planning permission just because lots of people object.

Instead, we assess any comments based on whether they’re material or non-material.

Matters we can take into account (material considerations)

Our assessment will take into account ‘material considerations’, such as:

• appearance (such as design, materials used, and scale)
• residential amenity (living conditions such as overshadowing, overlooking, noise, and odour)
• traffic, parking, and access
• loss of trees and landscaping issues
• flooding
• effect on the setting of a listed building or the character of a conservation area
• if the development goes against Renfrewshire’s Local Development Plan.

Matters we cannot take into account (non-material considerations)

Our decision will not be influenced by ‘non-material considerations’, such as:

• loss of a view
• effect on property values
• complaints about construction activity (such as noise, dust, construction vehicles, and working hours)
• competition between shopkeepers and other businesses
• problems between neighbours (such as boundary disputes, damage to property, and private rights of access).

Anyone can comment on a planning application, including:

• individuals
• groups
• organisations.

Creating an account

If you want to comment online, you’ll need to create an account on our planning portal if you do not already have one.

Your personal details

We will not accept anonymous comments. You must include your name and address when submitting your comment.

If you submit a comment, this information will be publicly available online:

• the comment
• your full name
• your postal address.

Pre-application consultations

If you commented on a proposal during a proposal of application notice pre-application consultation process before a major scale application was formally submitted, we will not consider that comment directly when making our decision on the planning application.

You’ll need to submit a new comment to the planning application if you’d like us to consider it when making our final decision on that proposal.

Comment on a planning application online

First, search for a planning application. Find out how to search for a planning application if you’re not sure how to do this.

Once you’ve found the right planning application, select Comments and Make a comment to submit your comment.

We prefer to receive comments online.

If you do not want to comment online, you can send us your comment in the post:

Your letter must include:

• your full name
• your address
• any views you’d like to tell us about the proposal.

We’ll include a summary of your points in our report for the planning application. We respond to all points, including material and non-material considerations.

We’ll publish our final decision and report for the planning application online.

Search for a planning application to view its status, including:

• any comments you or other people have submitted.
• the final decision and report once they’re available.

Only the person who applied for planning permission can appeal or ask for a review of our decision. Third parties, including people who commented on the application, cannot challenge our decision. This is known as ‘no third-party right of appeal’.

Planning permission means that we’ve given you our approval to move forward with a development project that requires our consent.

‘Development’ includes but is not limited to:

• constructing new buildings
• changing the use and appearance of existing buildings
• making other changes to the way land is used.

You should always check with us if you need planning permission before moving forward with a development.

Not all developments will need planning permission. These cases are called permitted development. We’ll be able to tell you if you need planning permission for your development.

Learn more about how the planning system works in Scotland (Scottish Government website).

You can apply for planning permission yourself, or you can ask an agent (such as a planning consultant, architect, or the contractor doing the work) to apply and progress the application on your behalf.

Supporting documents

When filling in your application, you’ll need to provide relevant supporting documents. These must comply with the relevant planning regulations for your application to be valid.

These usually include information such as:

• a location plan
• a site plan
• existing and proposed elevations
• existing and proposed floor plans
• roof plans
• existing and proposed site sections.

Many applicants choose to hire a professional to prepare these documents – for example, since plans must be metrically scaled.

If you’re applying for planning permission for a residential property, download our householder development guidance. It includes more details about the requirements for supporting documents.

Getting advice

You can ask for our advice before you apply for planning permission. We can help you:

• understand which policies apply to you
• clarify site constraints and, if appropriate, engage relevant stakeholders
• identify any issues early on.

There’s no cost to asking for our advice before you apply for planning permission.

Fill in the online form to ask for advice before applying

You can also contact us by:

If you’d like to contact us by phone, our duty planner is available Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 12:30pm.

Apply for planning permission on the ePlanning Scotland website. You’ll need to log in or create an account to start your application.

Apply for planning permission (ePlanning Scotland website)

Contact us if you have any questions about your application:

We’ll aim to respond to you within 14 days. If our response will take longer than 14 days, we’ll let you know how long you can expect to wait and will keep you updated on your application’s progress.

If you’d like to contact us by phone, our duty planner is available Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 12:30pm.

You’ll have to pay a fee with your planning permission application. The amount depends on the type and scale of your project.

Get an estimated fee for your planning permission application (ePlanning Scotland website).

If you’re unable to put your bins out, we may be able to help.

We can:

• take your bins out on your collection day
• empty them
• return them to a specific location on your property.
   

We can help if you:

• are unable to take your bins out yourself due to a physical or medical condition
• do not have anyone physically able in your household aged 14 or over
• do not have someone you can ask for help, such as a neighbour or a relative.

Once you apply, a council officer might arrange to visit you to confirm that you’re eligible. We can only offer this service to people who need it.

You can apply for yourself, or you can ask someone else (such as a neighbour or a relative) to apply on your behalf.

If applying online, you or the person applying on your behalf will need an email address.

You’ll need to tell us:

• your age
• any medical conditions
• if you’re registered as disabled
• if you live with anyone aged 14 or over and why they cannot put the bins out
• where you store your bins and any details about steps, gates, and path surfaces.

You'll need to give us:

• proof of date of birth, such as a birth certificate or passport
• proof of address, such as a utility bill or appointment letters from a hospital, GP, or dentist.

You’ll also need to give us either:

• a supporting letter from a social worker, paid carer, health worker, or housing officer
• evidence of a medical condition.

Acceptable evidence of a medical condition could include one of the following:

• proof that you receive benefits such as:
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – mobility element
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA) – mobility element
  • Adult Disability Payment (ADP) – mobility element
  • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) – for physical and mobility health issues
  • Universal Credit – limited capability for work related activity element
  • Pension Age Disability Payment  
  • Attendance Allowance
• hospital or GP letters detailing the condition
• NHS delivery notes for support equipment
• personal receipts for purchased support equipment as well as both of these.

You’ll be able to upload your evidence when you apply using the online form. If you prefer, you can send us photocopies of your evidence by post instead:

Apply for help to take your bins out

If you do not want to apply online, you can apply by phoning us on 0300 300 0300.

It will take up to 10 days for us to review your application.

We’ll send you a letter in the post to confirm that we’ve approved your application. This letter will also include some “Assisted Collection” stickers for you to stick on your bins. These stickers will help our bin collectors know which bins you’d like them to collect.

Your assisted collection service will begin within 2 weeks of the date shown on your approval letter.

Make sure to store your bins in a location where our bin collectors can access them. Any gates should be unlocked and in good working condition. Any dogs should be secured somewhere else to help keep our bin collectors safe.

Upload evidence for your service review

We review all assisted collections each year. This is so we can check if you still need help to take your bins out.

We'll send you a letter in the post when it's time for your review. The letter will explain what evidence you'll need to give us.

Use the Apply for help to take your bins out form to upload your evidence.

Tell us if you move house

If you move house, you need to tell us so we can update our records.

This service is free.

How the service works during school term time and holidays

During school term time

During school term time, children who attend St James' Primary or Mossvale Primary will go to Shortroods O.S.C service. Children who attend Glencoats Primary or St Fergus Primary will go to Ferguslie After School Care.

Staff from our out of school care service will pick your child up from their school at 3pm and take them to the service.

You should collect your child from the service by 5:45pm.

During school holidays and in-service days

During school holiday periods and in-service days, children at both services will go to the Shortroods campus in Mossvale and St James Primary School.

Operational hours during school holiday periods and in-service days are 8am to 5:45pm.  

Snacks will be provided at the service during term time and school holidays, but your child will need to bring their own packed lunch during school holidays and in-service days.

If you have registered your child with a private or voluntary out of school care service, you should contact them directly to find out drop off and pick up arrangements.

For more information on out of school care services in Renfrewshire, email outofschoolcareenquiries@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

More information

Find out more information on childminders, after school, holiday and activity clubs for school age children (Parent Club website).

Out of school care services provide childcare support for parents around the school day during term time and during school holidays.

The services are available for primary school pupils in Renfrewshire.

You can apply for a place for your child at our out of school care services if you are in employment, further education, or training.

Private and voluntary organisations may have different conditions to use their service.

Council-run services

We run 2 out of school care services in Renfrewshire.  

Shortroods O.S.C (Out of School Care) service is located in Mossvale Primary School and St James Primary School, Paisley. This service can accommodate children who attend either of these primary schools.

Ferguslie After School Care is located in Glencoats Primary School, Paisley. This service can accommodate children who attend Glencoats Primary School and St Fergus Primary School.

Both services are open from 3pm to 5:45pm during school term time and offer a variety of indoor and outdoor activities.

During school holidays, both services are open from 8am until 5:45pm but operate from the Shortroods campus in Mossvale Primary School and St James Primary School.

Private or voluntary organisations

There are 36 out of school care services in Renfrewshire operated by private or voluntary organisations. These are registered with the Care Inspectorate to deliver childcare for school age children.

You can see registered out of school care services (Care Inspectorate website). Type in your town or village and select 'daycare of children' to see the list of services in your area.

The Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) also provides a list of childcare services for school age children provided by childminders.

You can use the find a childminder page to see the list of SCMA registered childminders in Renfrewshire (Scottish Childminding Association website).

When you apply, you’ll need to select the days of the week you would like to request out of school care at either Shortroods O.S.C (Out of School Care) or Ferguslie After School Care.

Apply online for out of school care at Shortroods O.S.C or Ferguslie After School Care.

If you're looking to use a private or voluntary out of school care service, you should contact them directly to discuss getting a place for your child.

We’ll contact you by phone and email to let you know if your child has been given an out of school care place at Shortroods O.S.C or Ferguslie After School Care.

You’ll need to complete enrolment paperwork for your child before they start with the service.

We’ll email this paperwork to you, and you can return it to us by email. You can also complete this in person at the service.

After you have completed the enrolment paperwork for Shortroods O.S.C or Ferguslie After School Care, your child can start going to the service.

Costs for out of school care may vary between service or organisation.