In most cases, no. Low garden walls built well within your own property boundary are generally treated as permitted development and do not require planning permission. However, if the wall sits adjacent to a highway or public footpath, height restrictions apply — typically no more than 1 metre without permission. If the property is listed or in a conservation area, different rules may apply. Always check with your local council if you are unsure before starting work.
Garden Walling Blocks and Copings for Lasting Outdoor Structure
A solid garden wall does more than mark a boundary. It adds structure, privacy and a finished look to any outdoor space — whether that's a neat front boundary, a raised planter or a split-level garden. MacBlair stocks walling blocks and copings to suit a range of projects, from small DIY builds to full landscaping schemes.
The range covers two key product types:
- Walling blocks — concrete walling units suited to boundary walls, garden dividers, retaining structures and raised bed edging.
- Copings — coping stones that cap the top of a finished wall, protecting it from water ingress and giving a clean, professional edge.
Copings are worth planning from the outset, not as an afterthought. Coping stones sit on top of the wall and shed rainwater away from the mortar joints below, which reduces frost damage and prolongs the life of the structure considerably. Matching the coping style to the walling block keeps the finish looking cohesive.
For projects that go beyond walling, the full landscaping and gardening range at MacBlair includes paving, edgings and drainage. If the wall ties into a patio or path, browse paving options to find materials that complement the walling finish.
Garen Walling FAQ's
Walling blocks form the main body of the wall — the courses you lay from the foundation upwards. Coping stones are placed along the very top of the finished wall. Their primary job is to shed rainwater away from the mortar joints below, protecting the wall from water damage and frost over time. Copings also give the wall a neat, finished appearance. It is worth selecting both together to make sure the styles and colours are compatible before ordering.
For a typical low garden wall up to around 600mm in height, a concrete footing at least 150mm deep is generally recommended, set into a trench approximately 200mm deep and 300mm wide. The trench should be filled with compacted hardcore before the concrete is poured. For taller walls or any wall that will be retaining soil, deeper foundations are required and it is advisable to seek guidance from a structural engineer to make sure the build is safe and fit for purpose.
Most walling blocks are designed to be laid with mortar, which bonds the courses together and locks the wall into the foundation. A standard sand and cement mix is used for most garden walling projects. Some interlocking or dry-stack walling systems can be built without mortar, but these are typically freestanding decorative walls rather than structural or retaining builds. Check the product specification before starting, as using the wrong method can affect the stability and longevity of the wall.
The most effective protection is fitting proper coping stones to the top of the wall. Exposed mortar joints at the top are vulnerable to rainwater sitting on them, which then freezes and expands in cold weather, causing cracking and spalling over time. Coping stones shed water away from the wall and significantly reduce this risk. It is also worth checking that the mortar mix used is suitable for exterior use and that the base of the wall has adequate drainage to prevent water pooling around the foundations.