Before you hire the digger out, did you know that paving over your front garden may require planning permission?

Parking is increasingly an issue, and many consider removing their front gardens to accommodate parking their car(s) there instead. In some places, roads now have virtually no front gardens left to help soak up heavy rains, and our mains drainage gets overloaded very quickly – causing localised flooding.

Front gardens are an undeniably valuable resource for soaking up rainwater, preventing as much as 50% more water going into road drains and the subsequent problems this can create such as street drains becoming overwhelmed, localised flooding, and streets and homes becoming flooding elsewhere! The Government and Local Authorities recognise the importance of gardens and porous surfaces around our properties keeping the risk of this low by its planning policy relating to paving over of front gardens, some made as far back as 2008.

You will not need planning permission if a driveway of any size uses permeable (or porous) surfacing, such as gravel, permeable concrete block paving or porous asphalt, or if the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally into the ground.

“Keeping hard surfaces to an absolute minimum, and utilising a mix of gravel and paving, or porous concrete [see picture below] gives more space for creativity in your front garden / driveway. Gravel gardens can seamlessly segue into drives – with drought-tolerant, low maintenance planting which will ramp up the pollinator-friendly factor. The overall appearance of an expansive driveway is then softened and distinctive. Not only is it more environmentally friendly and reduces flooding risk for your property, it will also add value to your home.”

Tamar
Trustee (and professional Planting Designer)
image: pavingdirectdotcom

If the surface to be covered is more than five square metres, planning permission will be needed for laying traditional, impermeable driveways that do not provide for the water to run to a permeable area. Reputable pavers and landscapers will know this, and advise you according at the earliest opportunity. But it pays to be informed.

See our website for more information: beestoncivicsociety.org.uk/driveways

Content by Tamar