Building/Landscaping/Garden construction......
Discussion
We have an open field ditch on our garden boundary. It is approx 2m wide. Our boundary is the hedgeline on the far side. We have previously applied for planning permission to fill in the ditch like 3 of our neighbours have, but have been refused.
There were issues when neighbours just stuck in a pipe.....council came along and told them they had to do differently with MASSIVE pipe, gravel infills etc etc.....they then gave them permission...
So, knowing this, we applied for PP fully expecting to do it to same spec. etc....but we were turned down Drainage is a hot potato now and they will just not even consider it.....precedent does not work with planners....
So, we could take the risk and shove in a pipe and wait and see.....but its not going to be a cheap exercise, and very disruptive if we have to dig it all up etc etc....
Trouble is, it is holding us up doing other parts of the garden as we will need access through to work on the ditch...
Hence, trying to think laterally.....
One option I considered previously was to construct a decked area that would project over the ditch, thereby leaving it open (underneath the deck). However we don't really want that part of the garden to be decked...
So, I was thinking, how about constructing something over the ditch, but then putting lawn/beds etc on top....it would obviously need a depth of soil to work, but I think we could probably make it work without needing to slope it up too much...
Is this a practical idea?
What materials to use?
Any other ideas?
Ditch runs along whole width of garden - probably about 18m - so would add a useful area to the garden....
There were issues when neighbours just stuck in a pipe.....council came along and told them they had to do differently with MASSIVE pipe, gravel infills etc etc.....they then gave them permission...
So, knowing this, we applied for PP fully expecting to do it to same spec. etc....but we were turned down Drainage is a hot potato now and they will just not even consider it.....precedent does not work with planners....
So, we could take the risk and shove in a pipe and wait and see.....but its not going to be a cheap exercise, and very disruptive if we have to dig it all up etc etc....
Trouble is, it is holding us up doing other parts of the garden as we will need access through to work on the ditch...
Hence, trying to think laterally.....
One option I considered previously was to construct a decked area that would project over the ditch, thereby leaving it open (underneath the deck). However we don't really want that part of the garden to be decked...
So, I was thinking, how about constructing something over the ditch, but then putting lawn/beds etc on top....it would obviously need a depth of soil to work, but I think we could probably make it work without needing to slope it up too much...
Is this a practical idea?
What materials to use?
Any other ideas?
Ditch runs along whole width of garden - probably about 18m - so would add a useful area to the garden....
Have exactly the issue, with the same decking idea as a solution, but it will cost alot and i dont like decking much anyway.
In the end we are going with the solution of putting an upright side to the ditch, as far across as we can, and then just topsoil and lawn to that, then clean the ditch out and plant appropriate plants in it to look nice,
for the ditch uprights, not sure whether to go I beam steels with sleepers slotted between, or concrete posts with concrete gravel board slotted down.
I think both will work and hold the pressure (not forgetting to leave some slack for drainage) not sure which will be cheaper though...
Any other ideas most welcome!!
In the end we are going with the solution of putting an upright side to the ditch, as far across as we can, and then just topsoil and lawn to that, then clean the ditch out and plant appropriate plants in it to look nice,
for the ditch uprights, not sure whether to go I beam steels with sleepers slotted between, or concrete posts with concrete gravel board slotted down.
I think both will work and hold the pressure (not forgetting to leave some slack for drainage) not sure which will be cheaper though...
Any other ideas most welcome!!
satans worm said:
Have exactly the issue, with the same decking idea as a solution, but it will cost alot and i dont like decking much anyway.
In the end we are going with the solution of putting an upright side to the ditch, as far across as we can, and then just topsoil and lawn to that, then clean the ditch out and plant appropriate plants in it to look nice,
for the ditch uprights, not sure whether to go I beam steels with sleepers slotted between, or concrete posts with concrete gravel board slotted down.
I think both will work and hold the pressure (not forgetting to leave some slack for drainage) not sure which will be cheaper though...
Any other ideas most welcome!!
Wow! Someone who understands!!In the end we are going with the solution of putting an upright side to the ditch, as far across as we can, and then just topsoil and lawn to that, then clean the ditch out and plant appropriate plants in it to look nice,
for the ditch uprights, not sure whether to go I beam steels with sleepers slotted between, or concrete posts with concrete gravel board slotted down.
I think both will work and hold the pressure (not forgetting to leave some slack for drainage) not sure which will be cheaper though...
Any other ideas most welcome!!
Sorry, just to clarify, are you incorporating the ditch within your garden, or pushing your boundary as far as you can up to the edge of the ditch.....??
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