Metal Alley Gates — Bespoke Alleyway Security Gates Made to Measure

Heavy-Duty Alleyway & Footpath Security Gates Built in the UK

A metal alley gate is one of the most cost-effective security upgrades you can make to your home. By securing the rear or side access to your property, you eliminate the most common entry route used by opportunistic intruders to reach back gardens, conservatories, sheds, and yards. Specified by police forces, local councils, and housing associations across the UK as part of crime-reduction and Secured by Design initiatives, our alley gates are engineered as a robust, lockable physical barrier intended to deter burglary, anti-social behaviour, and fly-tipping. Every alley gate is hand-fabricated to your exact measurements in our UK workshop from heavy-gauge galvanised steel, then finished with a tough powder-coated surface designed for the demands of the British climate.

Any Gate Design Available as an Alley Gate

Every design in our collection can be manufactured as an alley gate or alleyway gate — there are no design restrictions. Choose any style from our driveway gate designs, sliding gate designs, garden gate designs, side gate designs, composite gate designs, or metal framed gate designs — and we will scale and fabricate it to the exact width and height of your alleyway, ginnel, snicket, or rear access passage. Whether your preference is a traditional wrought iron look with scrollwork and finials, a modern vertical slat design for a contemporary appearance, a solid privacy panel for maximum security and visual screening, or a decorative scrolled pattern, the same hand-finishing and craftsmanship applies. Simply select any design from our website and specify “alley gate” sizing when requesting your quote.

Custom Sizes — From Narrow Footpaths to Wide Rear Access

UK alleyways vary enormously in width — from tight 2ft (610mm) pedestrian footpaths to broad 8ft (2438mm) rear vehicle access passages. Our alley gates are made to measure to fit any opening, however narrow or awkward the space. We also produce bespoke configurations for uneven ground, sloping alleys, properties where the boundary walls are at different heights, and openings where the posts need to be set at different elevations to accommodate ground levels. All gate posts are included with your order and can be supplied for concrete-in installation, bolt-down base-plate fixing onto existing slabs or kerb stones, or wall-mount fitting directly into brick or block walls.

Trusted by UK Councils, Housing Associations & Residents’ Schemes

Metal Gates UK regularly supplies alley gate projects for local authority crime prevention schemes, housing association estates, residents’ associations, and property management companies across the UK. We understand the requirements of council tender processes, can provide material certifications and RAMS documentation where required, and accommodate scheduled call-off deliveries for phased rollouts. If your street or estate is applying for an alley gating scheme through your local council or police community safety team, contact our trade desk for project-specific specifications and competitive pricing.

Manual or Electric Alley Gates with High-Security Locking

Most alley gates are manually operated with a heavy-duty mortice lock, deadbolt, or padlock-ready hasp — typically with a single key shared between the relevant households on a shared-access alley. We can also supply electrically automated alley gates with remote control, keypad, RFID fob, or video intercom entry for situations requiring controlled access — particularly suited to commercial properties, shared estate access routes, gated mews developments, and any application where multiple authorised users require independent entry. All locks and access control hardware are sourced from UK-recognised brands and rated for outdoor use.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alley Gates

Do I need planning permission for an alley gate?

Alley gates installed by individual property owners generally fall within permitted development rights if under 2 metres in height and not directly fronting a public highway. However, alley gates installed across a shared alleyway or footpath that’s classed as a public right of way typically require a formal Gating Order from the local authority under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. We recommend speaking to your local council planning department before installing an alley gate that blocks a shared passage.

How tall should an alley gate be?

For security purposes, alley gates are typically specified at 6ft (1830mm) to 7ft (2134mm) tall — matching common boundary fence heights and making climbing significantly more difficult. Lower heights of around 4ft to 5ft are sometimes used for decorative footpath gates where security is a secondary consideration.

Can multiple residents share keys to the same alley gate?

Yes. We can supply alley gates with a mortice lock keyed to multiple matching keys (typically one set per household on the alley), or with a padlock arrangement where each resident keeps a copy of the same key. For shared community alleys, this is the standard configuration.

How much do metal alley gates cost?

Prices vary based on size, design and material — typically starting from around £350 for a narrow pedestrian alley gate and rising to £900+ for wider, more decorative or higher-security designs. Trade pricing is available for council schemes, housing association projects, and bulk orders. Call 020 8911 6000 for a quote tailored to your project.

Get a Quote for Your Bespoke Alley Gate

Tell us your alleyway width, your preferred height, and any design preferences — we’ll send you a quote with detailed specifications. Whether you’re a homeowner securing your own rear access, a residents’ association coordinating an alley gating scheme, or a council or housing association project manager, our UK-based team will match your project to the right specification. Call 020 8911 6000, email info@metalgatesuk.co.uk, or browse our full alley gate range below.