Aluminium Pedestrian and Side Access Gates in Derby
A side gate is rarely the first thing people plan, but it is almost always the second. It carries the daily traffic — bins, bikes, deliveries — while the driveway gate stays shut.
Because it is used far more often, a pedestrian gate needs different hardware from a driveway leaf, even when the design matches exactly.
Sizing and access
Standard pedestrian gates are 900 mm to 1,000 mm wide, which clears a wheelie bin and a bicycle. Where a side passage in DE1, DE22 or DE23 is narrower, we build to the exact opening rather than trimming a stock size.
For accessibility, a 1,000 mm clear width and a level threshold make the gate usable with a wheelchair or pram.
- 900–1,000 mm typical width
- Built to your measured opening, not a stock size
- Matching infill, top profile and RAL colour to the driveway gate
Locks, keypads and access control
Options run from a simple long-throw key lock to a mechanical code lock, or an electric strike released by keypad, fob or intercom alongside the main gate system.
Where the driveway gate is automated, we normally wire the pedestrian gate into the same control panel so one keypad code opens either.
- Long-throw key lock for straightforward security
- Mechanical keypad — no wiring, no batteries
- Electric strike linked to the driveway gate intercom
Posts, hinges and fixings
Pedestrian gates take daily use, so hinge and post specification matters. We use adjustable heavy-duty hinges on aluminium posts, either bolted to a concrete pad or set into the ground, and can fix directly to brickwork where the passage is tight.
Self-closing hinges are worth adding where children or dogs use the garden.
Matching your driveway gate
We build the side gate from the same profile, infill and powder-coated finish as the main gate, so the entrance reads as one design. If the driveway gate comes later, we record the specification and match it exactly when it does.
Frequently asked questions
- What width should a pedestrian side gate be?
- 900 mm to 1,000 mm suits most Derby properties — enough for a wheelie bin or bicycle. We build to the measured opening where a side passage is narrower or wider.
- Can a side gate use the same keypad as my driveway gate?
- Yes. With an electric strike wired into the driveway gate control panel, one keypad code or fob opens either gate.
- Do aluminium pedestrian gates need maintenance?
- Very little. Wash the powder coating occasionally and lubricate the lock once a year; aluminium does not rust.
- Can you match a side gate to gates installed by someone else?
- In most cases yes. We survey the existing gate, match the profile, infill style and RAL colour as closely as the original design allows.