Before you hire the digger out, did you know 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 road drainage (many of which are combined systems of surface and waste water) gets overloaded very quickly – causing localised flooding, containing foul water.

Front gardens and porous surfaced driveways 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 changes, some made as far back as 2008.

Reputable pavers and landscapers will know this, and advise you according at the earliest opportunity. But it pays to be informed.

WHEN YOU WON’T:

You will not need planning permission if a new or replacement 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.

WHEN YOU WILL:

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.

Top Tips

1. Use permeable or porous materials
You’ll not only NOT need planning permission (saving at least £150, and a lot of time) but you will also be helping reduce the risk of flooding around your own, and others’ properties – giving water from heavy rainfall somewhere to go. You will also be making a more ecological choice, and driveways of porous concrete, gravel or paving can also create micro spaces for wildlife and biodiversity.

2. Choose contractors wisely
If your contractor doesn’t mention planning permission or the drainage of surface water, be wary. Reputable, experienced tradespeople should know about this – and advise you, not the other way around!

3. If you use non-porous materials, keep some of your garden or have a hedgerow
This allows surface rain water to flow into it to soak away. Gullies and storm drains can also be utilised, especially in large areas, to distribute ‘run off’ evenly – preventing puddling, or soggy areas of your garden. You may still need planning permission.

4. Check with the Council FIRST!
If you have plans to remove your front garden or to ‘redo’ your drive and are unsure about what is OK, ask at Broxtowe planning for advice before work starts. You can email at pabc@broxtowe.gov.uk
Failure to obtain planning permission for a project which requires it could result in Enforcement action, which could involve fines, and further cost of altering or redoing the driveway work. It is much better to check before work starts!

So before you let someone dig up your lawn and order that concrete – ensure your plans meet with guidelines, or choose permeable surface materials, and get the best of both worlds.

ONLINE Resources

See here for Broxtowe’s Planning portal on paving over front gardens
See here for Information by the RHS
See here for comprehensive Government guidance on the permeable surfacing of front gardens