Gate Automation in Chichester

Many properties in and around Chichester already have manual gates — wrought iron swing gates on the period city homes in Westgate and the conservation area, wooden five-bar gates on the rural and estate properties up the Lavant valley, and galvanised steel farm gates on the Manhood Peninsula. Automating these existing gates is often more practical and cost-effective than replacing the whole setup. We survey the site, recommend the right motor system, and handle the installation.

We're based in Horsham and cover the Chichester area regularly — from the large country houses along the Goodwood estate roads and the A286 towards Lavant, to the harbour-side properties in Bosham, Dell Quay, and Itchenor, and the detached family homes around Summersdale to the north of the city.

Automation survey: £195+VAT (free with any repair or service booking)

Call us: 07542 024681 | Book online

What the Automation Survey Covers

Before any motor goes on a gate, we need to see the site. Every gate is different — weight, width, hinge condition, post strength, power supply proximity, and clearance all affect which motor system will work. The survey is a detailed, on-site assessment.

Gate Assessment

We measure the gate leaf weight and width, check hinge condition and post integrity, and assess the gate material. Around Chichester, the wooden five-bar gates on estate and farm properties are often heavier than owners expect, and galvanised steel farm gates automated for estate access can be heavier still. The motor needs to match the load, or it will burn out within a few years.

Salt and Corrosion Check

On the harbour side — Bosham, Dell Quay, and Itchenor — salt-laden air from Chichester Harbour and the Solent attacks hardware constantly. Before specifying automation, we check for existing corrosion on hinges, brackets, and posts, and recommend stainless steel fixings, marine-grade grease, and corrosion-resistant motor housings. On these exposed coastal plots, the right materials are the difference between a system that lasts and one that seizes.

Post and Foundation Check

The Manhood Peninsula is very low-lying and flood-prone, and the Goodwood area sits on chalk with long gravel driveways. Both affect how a motor mounts and survives. We check whether the existing posts can support a motor or whether they need reinforcement, and on flood-prone harbour and peninsula plots we steer owners away from underground motors that sit at risk of water ingress.

Power Supply

The motor needs a dedicated power supply — typically a 240V feed from the house to the gate position. We check what's already in place and advise on the cabling route. On the long gravel driveways common around Goodwood and the Lavant valley, the cable run can be 30 metres or more, and armoured cable is essential. On remote rural plots between Chichester and the harbour, poor mobile signal also matters if you want a GSM intercom on the gate.

Motor Recommendation

Based on the gate weight, type, and site conditions, we recommend a specific motor system. For most Chichester residential properties, this will be a CAME or BFT system — CAME swing gates are already common on the newer suburban installations around Summersdale. For the period wrought iron gates in the city centre and conservation area, we favour discreet articulated-arm motors that preserve the gate's appearance and respect local restrictions on materials.

Safety Requirements

All new gate automation must comply with current safety standards. We specify the safety devices needed — photocells, safety edges, warning lights — and include these in the quote. This is not optional. Automated gates are machinery, and they must be safe.

Automation Options for Chichester Properties

Pricing for Gate Automation

The survey fee covers the visit, a full site assessment, and a written specification with costed options. If you proceed with the installation, the survey fee is deducted from the total.

Installation costs vary depending on the motor system, gate type, power supply requirements, and safety devices. We provide a fixed-price quote after the survey — no surprises.

Areas Covered Near Chichester

We also cover gate automation in these nearby areas:

• Gate automation in Worthing
• Gate automation in Storrington

Also covering: Bosham, Dell Quay, Itchenor, Lavant, Summersdale, Fishbourne, Bracklesham, East Wittering.