Planning permission required for a drive?
Discussion
Hoping to get the drive redone this year - it is 20+ year old tarmac over even older concrete, and it's in a shocking state.
It is to one side of the plot and extends down the side of the house, but we want to include a sweep round in front of the front room window so we can get 2 cars off road at the front of the house.
Obviously this means a chunk of lawn has got to go, and I know there are all sorts of things about allowing enough land for rainwater to drain through - although I understand than drives can now be made from material that allow this.
Given that we want to go for block paving, are we going to be OK with this? Do we need to ask our local council for permission?
It is to one side of the plot and extends down the side of the house, but we want to include a sweep round in front of the front room window so we can get 2 cars off road at the front of the house.
Obviously this means a chunk of lawn has got to go, and I know there are all sorts of things about allowing enough land for rainwater to drain through - although I understand than drives can now be made from material that allow this.
Given that we want to go for block paving, are we going to be OK with this? Do we need to ask our local council for permission?
Personally i would get on and do it(the ground under tarmac/concrete now no problem) but if you want to be sure phone your local planning office. They will ask you what the land is currently used for, tell them that you park cars on it(inc grass area) and have for years. If they want a site visit make sure a car is parked there and obvious signs of parking are visible. Different areas will have different rules and views so you dont know unless you ask... but in my book if you think you may not like the answer dont ask the question!!
Permitted development as described below (ie benefits from deemed planning permission provided PD rights have not been removed) as long as the conditions set out are satisfied.
F Development consisting of
(a) the provision within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse of a
hard surface for any purpose incidental to the enjoyment of
the dwellinghouse as such; or
(b) the replacement in whole or in part of such a surface.
If the hard surface is to the front of the property and is to exceed 5 square
metres in area, either the hard surface shall be made of porous materials, or
provision shall be made to direct run-off water from the hard surface to a
permeable or porous area or surface within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse.
Any new vehicle access needs planning permission (as well as a road
opening permit) if the access is to a classified road or is to serve a
development (such as an extension) that itself needs planning permission
F Development consisting of
(a) the provision within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse of a
hard surface for any purpose incidental to the enjoyment of
the dwellinghouse as such; or
(b) the replacement in whole or in part of such a surface.
If the hard surface is to the front of the property and is to exceed 5 square
metres in area, either the hard surface shall be made of porous materials, or
provision shall be made to direct run-off water from the hard surface to a
permeable or porous area or surface within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse.
Any new vehicle access needs planning permission (as well as a road
opening permit) if the access is to a classified road or is to serve a
development (such as an extension) that itself needs planning permission
NiceCupOfTea said:
Pupp, my brain is too fried to read and understand your post!
Is the summary is that you need PP to *alter* your drive, or to cover the entire frontage? I just want go over about half of the front lawn (not huge anyway).
If the 'new' bit exceeds 5 sq metres you will need PP unless you observe the porosity/drainage requirementIs the summary is that you need PP to *alter* your drive, or to cover the entire frontage? I just want go over about half of the front lawn (not huge anyway).
Of course, if you do it and no-one picks up on it for four years, it becomes lawful anyway...
Simpo Two said:
Pupp said:
If the 'new' bit exceeds 5 sq metres you will need PP unless you observe the requirement
It would be amusing if the Olypmpic 2012 site - which exceeds 5m2) - had been been refused PP on grounds of porosity/drainage. 'Only in Britain' eh?!
Sounds daft on first reading but so many gardens in urban areas have been hard surfaced, there is now a real issue with surface water run off overwhelming drains in many areas. Hence the controls
Pupp said:
Simpo Two said:
Pupp said:
If the 'new' bit exceeds 5 sq metres you will need PP unless you observe the requirement
It would be amusing if the Olypmpic 2012 site - which exceeds 5m2) - had been been refused PP on grounds of porosity/drainage. 'Only in Britain' eh?!Sounds daft on first reading but so many gardens in urban areas have been hard surfaced, there is now a real issue with surface water run off overwhelming drains in many areas. Hence the controls
This can take a number of forms - permeable paving, balancing ponds, underground storage tanks, swales, etc., but the basic idea is to make sure the water is stored on site in a sudden downpour and allowed to trickle off gradually, to avoid overloading the sewers.
The usual requirement that the Environmant Agency will apply is that peak run-off in a heavy storm is attenuated to the level you'd get if the site was a green field.
Edited by Sam_68 on Sunday 11th January 10:45
NiceCupOfTea said:
Thanks guys.
Found a good guide on the planningportal website and it essentially says you can do what you want as long as you use porous materials - which I thought we had to anyway!
does block paving count as a porous material , i'm thinking of getting my drive/s done as they are currently gravel Found a good guide on the planningportal website and it essentially says you can do what you want as long as you use porous materials - which I thought we had to anyway!
liner33 said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
Thanks guys.
Found a good guide on the planningportal website and it essentially says you can do what you want as long as you use porous materials - which I thought we had to anyway!
does block paving count as a porous material , i'm thinking of getting my drive/s done as they are currently gravel Found a good guide on the planningportal website and it essentially says you can do what you want as long as you use porous materials - which I thought we had to anyway!
However, as there don't seem to be many approved, experienced contractors around..........
This only applies to the front of the property, or to areas that would drain onto the road.
So, 5 sq.mtrs at the front, permission required, 200 sq.mtr to the rear, none needed.
Go figure.
Anyway, it's the Councils fault, as they've done all they can to make it hard to park/expensive, what do they really expect peple to do?
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff